US2102403A - Refrigerating machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 14, 1937.

H, H. BlxLl-:R

REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed Jan. ll, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: Hawlefg H. Bixler,

' Attof'ny .i

2,ll2,43 REFREGEEEATHNG MACHEN@ Harley itl. Binler, Schenectady, N., Yaassignor to General Electric @ompm la comoration oi New cris Application January lli, i935. Serial No. L33? Refrigerating machines of the compression type y include a compressor for compressing a gaseous refrigerant, the compressor being driven by an electric motor or the like. The gaseous rerigerant so compressed is cooled and liqueiied in a suit= able condenser from which it flows to an evapora-1 tor or other cooling unit. The liquid refrigerant is caused to boil in the cooling unit by the absorption of heat from surrounding objects. `The gaseous refrigerant thus formed by the boiling in the cooling unit is returned to the compressor and the cycle is repeated. In operating machines of the type described, it is desirable to provide some mechanism for unloading the compressor during the starting period in order that the motor may start under a comparatively light load and .hence not draw an excessive starting current. lt is also desirable that the unloading mechanism should. be arranged to unload the compressor when the supply of current to the motor has been shut oli" and the motor is coasting to a stop inorder to minimize vibration of the machine.

In addition I have found it desirable to arrange the unloading mechanism in'such a manner that the compressor will be unloaded when the amount of lubricantsupplied to the bearings of the ma= chine is'insuicient in order that. damage, result-1 ing from running the parts fully loaded when they are not properly lubricated, may be avoided. This problem is of particular importance in the case of closed compression system rerigerating machines in which the compression system con:- tains lubricant such as oil. In such machines the lubricant is mingled with the refrigerant during at least a part of the operating cycle and if the lubricant is not thoroughly purged of gaseous reirigerant before it is supplied to the parts which it is intended to lubricate it may be so thinned by vthe refrigerant that improper lubrication will he had.

it is .an object of my Iinvention to provide an improved unloading mechanism for refrigerant compressors or the like.

It is a further object of my invention to prende a compression type refrigerating machine or the like including apparatus for unloading the compressor thereof when an insullcientamount or" lubricant is supplied to lubricate said machine.

Another object 'of my invention is to provide a compressiontype refrigerating machine or theN like including apparatus for unloading the cornpressor thereof when the lubricant supplied therea to contains too large a percentage or reirigeran therein to insure adequate lubrication oi said machine.

.Anotherobject of my invention is to provide an improved refrigerating machine of the type de-z scribed which vvill be ecient in operation and in which any noise caused by its operation is minimized.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features ci novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claimsannexedto and forming a part of this specification.

' For a better understanding of my invention, reference may he had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig'. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a reirigerating machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view o; the casing andA motor driven compressor included in the refriger-L ating machine shovvn in Fig. l the top of the com.'- pressor and part of the top of the motor being broken away; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotary lubricant pump on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5; Fig. i ls a partial bottom plan view of the Scotch yoke mechanism of the compressor shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section along' the line 5 5, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve and unloader mechanisms included in the refrigerating machine shown in Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a detail view of a valve assembly for the compressor in-s cluded in the reirigerating machine shown in Fig. 1;iiig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8' of the relief valve included in the valve assembly shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a iragmentaryenlarged longitudinal sectional view of the unloader cylinder. y

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. i I have shown a refrigerating machine provided with an hermetically sealed casing I made up of an upper casing section 11i and a lower casing section i2, the adjacent edges of these sections being Welded together over a reinforcing ring I3 as indicated at'lll. The casing sections liland i2 are preferably made of steel, and mounted on a rel movable cabinet top ige. A refrigerant compresser l and an electric driving motor I6 therefor are contained Within the hermetically sealed casing lo. The compressor I5 is secured to the top of the driving motor I6 by bolts I1 and i8, thus forming a compact unitary structure. This unitary structure is mounted in the casing ,i0 on three vertical helical springs I9, 2|), and 2l. The upper ends oi' springs iii, 2S, and 2l are secured to Fleet 22, 23, and "63, respectively, these feet being welded to the periphery of the frame of the motor I 6 at equally spaced intervals of approximatevns ly 120. The lower end of the spring 20 is supported on an indentation 25 formed in the lower section I2 of the casing I0, as shown in Fig. 5. The springs I9 and 2l are also supported on similar indentations formed in the lower section I2 of the casing I0. A bumper ring 26 surrounds the unitary structure and is secured in a slot 21 in a foot 23, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Similar slots are formed in the feet 22 and 24 for supporting the bumper ring 26. 'A series of stops 26, 29, and 30 are welded to the inner side wall of the casing I at spaced intervals of approximately 120 as best shown in Fig. 2. These stops limit the vertical movement of the unitary structure by engagement with the bumper ring 26.

in slots therein in the usual manner. End shields and 36 are provided for the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the stator 33, being secured thereto by bolts 31. The shaft 32 is supported in upper and lower bearings 38 and39, ,respectively. The upper bearing 33 is of the self-aiming sleeve type, having a relatively large axial length -as compared to its'diameter and is loosely mounted in a cylindrical bore formed in the upper end shield 35 and preferably having a-sucklng Vilt therewith. Rotation of the bearing 36, in bore 40 is prevented by a pin 38a. The lower bearing 39 is a machined surface of a cylindrical bore' formed in the lower end shield 36 in axial alinement with the shaft 32. Since the compressor I5 is located closely adjacent the upper bearing 33, most of the lateral thrust on the shaft 32 is takenup by this upper bearing and the lower bearing-33 may consequently be relatively short as compared to its diameter and hence need not be of the selfA-alining type. The lower end of the shaft 32 is supported on a retaining plate 4I which is secured to the lower end shield 36 by bolts 42, which'are in `threaded engagement with tapped holes 43 providedin the lowerv end shield 36. The upper surface of theretaining plate 4I is ground to provide a vsmooth flat surface on which' the end of the shaft 32 may freely rotate. Any down- Y ward axialthrust on the shaft 32 is thus taken up bythe retaining plate 4I. By the use of such a bearing arrangement contained within the end shields 35 and 36, a compact structure having a minimum vertical height is provided.

The lupper end of the shaft 32 is -provided with `a crank arm 44 and a lcounterweight 45'. The

compressor I5' is of the Scotch yoke type and includes a cylindrical slide 46, and during reciprocation of a piston'49 by the crank 44 the slide is reciprocated in a cross-head 41, the crank 44' passing through an elongated slot or opening 43 in the lower side of the cross-head 41. The piston 4s is welded to the cross-head 41 and is reciprocated in a bore 53 of a compression cylinder 5l. The rotary movement of the crank 44 causes a reciprocatory movement of the slide 46 in the vcross-head 41, and a reciprocatory movement of the piston 49 in the bore 50 of the compressor cylinder 5l.

The particular construction of the piston and yoke illustrated is not my invention, but is the invention of Christian Steenstrup, and is described and claimed in his application, Serial No. 12,390, iiled March,22, 1935, and assigned to the General Electric Company, the assignee of my present invention.

One end of the bore 50 of the compression cylinder 5I is closed by a. fiat valve plate 52, which is secured to the cylinder 5I by bolts 53. The bolts 53 also hold a muille box 54 in 1:lace` on top of the valve `plate 52. As best shown in Fig. '7, the valve plate 52 is provided with a relatively largeintake opening 55, which is closed by a ilexible inlet valve 55a. The inlet valve 55a is preferably made'in the form of a tongue which is an integral part of a thin plate of steel or thellke 55h having the same peripheral dimensions as the valve plate 52 and having an opening 55o. A series of relatively small exhaust ports 56 arranged in a circle are also provided in the valve plate 52 and are normally closed by a disk-shaped flexible exhaust valve 56a. The exhaust valve 56a is provided with a disk-shaped retainer 56h, the retainer 56h and exhaust valve 56a being secured to the valve plate. 52 by a rivet .51 which passes through registering central apertures in 4the retainer and exhaust valve. The valve plate 52 is also provided with a relief port 58, which is closed by a relief valve 59. The relief valve 59 is normally biased to the closed position by a helical compression spring 60 which urges a stud 6I against the valve 59. The tension of the spring 60 i`s so proportioned that if the pressure in the cylinder bore 50 exceeds a predetermined safe value, because of the failure of the exhaust valve 56a to opener for some other reason, the valve 59 will open and bleed `a portion of the compressedl fluid in the cylinder bore 50 into the interior of the casing I0. y

The general arrangement of the valve assembly described above forms no part of my present invention, but is described'and claimed in myapplication Serial No. 26,067, filed June, 11, 1935, and

assigned to the General Electric Company, thel assignee of my present invention.-

A body of oil or other `lubricant 62 is maintained in a reservoir, formed in the lower sectionq I2 ofthe casing |021 Lubricant is continuously through a conduit 63 by a rotary pump 64, which isv driven by the shaft 32 of the motorl6. As best shown in Fig. 3, the rotary pump 64 includes a pair of oppositely extendingv blades 65 and 66, which are slidably mounted Iin slots 61 and 63,

, respectively, formed in the lower end of the shaft 32. The. lower end of the shaft 3,2 and 'the blades 65 and 66 rotate in a chamber formed by a cylindrical bore 69 in a casing plate 16, the center of the bore 69 being eccentric with respect to the center of the shaft .32. The retaining plate 4I andy a cover plate 1| are secured to the lower Lin alcance side of the casing plate i8. The coverplate ill, the retaining plate il and the casing l1@- are held in their assembled position by the bolts d2. As the blades 65 and 86 rotate in the chamber 89, in a clockwise direction, for example, as viewed in Fig. 3, lubricant is drawn into the chamber 89l through the conduit 83 and an intake opening l2 .formed in the retaining plate @lli due to the increasing volume of the space behind the blade 85. Upon further rotation of the shaft 32, the lubricant is expelled under Ypressure from the chamber 89 through an outlet opening 'i3 formed in the retaining plate 4l.; This pumping action is due to the decreasing volume of the space in front of the blade 56 y.as the rotation of the shaft 32 continues. The blades 85 and 88 are pushed outwardly against the wall of the chamber 89 by centrifugal force and by the pressure of the lubricant in passage l5. Lubricant discharged through an outlet opening 13 in the retaining plate 4l passes into a depression 'I4 formed in the cover plate ll -and then upwardly through the central axially extending passage 'I5 formed in the shaft 32 of the motor i6. A portion of the lubricant passing upwardly through the passage l5, flows through a passage 16 which communicates with the lower portion o f the pass-age l5, and passes through the passage 'I6 to a groove l? ormedin theY lower bearing 39 of the shaft 32 thus lubricating the bearing 39. A horizontal passage 'i8 communicating with the upper portion of the passage l is also formed in the shaft 32 and communicates with a circular groove 'i9 formed in the upper bearing 38. Lubricant for`the bearing 38 is supplied thereto from the passage l5 through the passage 'i8 and groove 19. The surfaces of the bearings 38 and 3'9 may be pro# vided 'with` cross grooves communicating with the grooves 'il and 19 in order to more thoroughly distribute the lubricant over the surface of the bearings. A further portion of the lubricant under pressure in the passage 'I5 passes upwardly therefrom through a passage 80 formed inthe crank 44 to the top of the latter and lubricates the contacting surfaces of the crank 44 and the slide 46, as well as the contacting surface of the cross-head 4l.- A second passage 8| is also formed in. the crank 44`in order to allow lubricant to pass downwardly from the top of the crank 44 to the contacting-surfaces of the slide 46 and the crank 44 in orderto insure thorough lubrication of the same. A passage 82 is provided in the upper end shield of the. motor I6 which communicates with the groove 79 formed in the upper bearing 38 and supplies lubricant under pressure there-V from to an unloader 83. The passage 82 communicates at its upper end with a bore 84 of an unloader cylinder 85 of the unloader 83. In theA illustrative form of my invention, the compressor cylinder 5l and unloader cylinder 85 are made as an integral structure, the bores 50 and 84, respectively, of the cylinders being arranged inv parallel relationship. The unloader 83 includes* a cupshaped piston 86 vwhich is provided with a cylindrical sleeve 8l, the piston and sleeve being brazed cr other. ise secured together. The piston 8G and sleeve 3l constitute a movablev Wall of the cylinder 85. One end of a U-shapedoperating compressor i5. rThe piston 88 is provided with a depression 92 which engages a complementary notch formed in the disk 8 9 thereby preventing rotation of the disk in the piston 88.

A part of the lubricant supplied under pressure to the bore 89 through the passage 82 passes therefrom through a sharp edged orice 94 in the sleeve 8T! to a passage 95. TheA lubricant in the passage 95 hows into a passage so as to lubri cate the piston i9 of the compressor i5, as is described more in detail below. it will be seen that even when the unloader piston 98 is in its retracted position and the compressor i5 is un loaded that lubricant is supplied to the contact- .ing moving surfaces of the' piston and cylinder of the compressor through the sharp edged orice 99. By a'sharp edged orifice I mean an orice havingv a length which is small compared with its diameter, having a comparatively abrupt entrance on the upstream side thereof, and providing for a predetermined flow of fluid there,

through substantially irrespective of the viscosity ofQthe fluid iiowing through the orice. advantageous to use a sharp edged orifice to die vert a portion of the lubricant from the unloader y bore 84, since the amount of uid passing through isdiverted from thebore 84 through the orifice 9a varies directly asthe square root of the pressure. Hence, the area of the orifice 94 is preferably so proportioned that it will divert all of the'lubricantsupplied to the unloader-83 until the motor i8 reaches a predetermined speed, about 60% full running speed. After the motor l@ reaches such predetermined speed the lubricant in excess of the amount which may be diverted through the orifice 94 is accumulated in the bore 84 and causes the piston 86 to move outwardly. The operating rod 88 is thereby caused to disengage the inlet valve 55a and the latter then being free to^operate normally. As a consequence, the compressor l5 may at that time begin to compress gaseous refrigerant and the motor i6 will be loaded. Since the loading ofv the motor i8 is prevented until it reaches a predetermined speed, the danger of its drawing an excessive current at its starting is obviated. As was pointed out above, the quantity of lubricant flowing through the orice 94 is not aifected by viscosity so the motor I6 will always be loaded -at the same speed regardless of the temperature and hence viscosity of the lubricant. The orifice 9i is so positioned in the sleeve 81 with respect to the passage 95 that it registers with the latter when the sleeve 81 is at the extremity of its travel to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6,

and is also so positioned that when the sleeve 81 travels to the left the orifice 94 will not be cov- Itis"` ered by the wall ofthe cylinder 85 until the end of the passage 95 is uncoveredby the end of the sleeve 877. Such uncovering of the end of the passage 95 by the sleeve 8l permits an increased lquantity of lubricant to escape from the cylinder bore 815. The consequent reduction in pressure in the bore i3d limits the outward movement of the piston 86 so that the oriiice 94 is never covered by the cylinder wall 85 during the normal operation of the machine. Since the bore 84 of the unloader 83 is continuously in communica.- tion with the passage 95 irrespective of the position of the sleeve `81 and piston 86, lubricant may be continually supplied thereto at all times when the pump 64 is in operation.

'I'he unloader 83 also serves to unload the compressor I5 after the electrical circuit of the motor `|6 has been opened and the motor is coasting to a stop. If the compressor I6 were not unloaded during the coasting period the load imposed on the rotor 3| of the motor I6 by thecompressor I5 would cause the rotor to stop suddenly when the power was cut olf, jarring the machine. In the operationof the machine which I have illustrated, however, when the motor I6 slows down to a predetermined minimum speed, about of full speed, either because the' power thereto` has been cut off, or for any other reason, the pump 64 will also slow down thus reducing the pressure of the lubricant supplied to the unloader 83. Since the pressure on the piston 86 is thus reduced, the biasing spring 98 will cause the operating rod 88 to engage the inlet valve 56 thus unloading the compressor I5.

`It is particularly advantageous to locate the unloader 83 directly in the series lubricant 'circuit, so that the lubricant passes' in series through the principal bearing 38 of the motor. I6', the unloader 83 and about the piston of the compressor I5. When so arranged, the unloader 88 will `thus unload the compressor if an insufficient quantity of lubricant issupplied to the bearing 38 and thepiston 48 to insure the safe operation thereof. I have accomplished this result in the machine illustrated by providing the sharp edged orifice 84 in the sleeve 81,'as` described above, in order that the lubricant in the series lubricant circuit will pass continuously through the bore 84 of the unloader irrespective of the position of the unloader piston 86 and consequently the unloader 83 does not at any time stop the iiow of lubricant in the series lubricant circuit. 'I'here is some danger that gaseous refrigerant may be trapped as in solution in the lubricant which is pumped to the contacting moving surfaces of the compressor I5 and the motor I6 especially in a closed compression system of the type illustrated. The lubricant and gaseous refrigerant are in direct contact in the casing I8, so' that refrigerant gas may go into solution in the lubricant, and some of the lubricant may enter the compressor cylinder 5I and be circulated vwith thecompressed refrigerant. If thelubricant is pumped to a closed unloader cylinder and only diverted therefrom when the unloader piston is in a position to load the compressor there would be danger of loading the compressor when the lubricant contained such a large quantity of refrigerant that insuiiicient lubrication of the bearings and the like' would be had. In the arrangement which I provide', this danger is obviated since the bore 84 of the unloader isl in constant communication with its outlet port 85 and 'any y gaseous refrigerant which enters the bore 85 will be forced on out into the passage 85, and can not accumulate. in the bore 84 to move the un,-

loader piston 88 to the unloading position.

Lubricant diverted from the unloader bore 84 through the outlet port enters an annular groove formed in 'the wall of the compression A smaller cooperating annular- 81 registers with the groove 86 when the piston 48 is in its extreme retracted position shown in Fig. 5. When in this position, lubricant ows into the groove 91 from the groove 86. At the same time, the refrigerant Ain the `cylinder bore 58 is not under compression and hence there is little or no tendency for it to leak past the piston 49. As the piston 49 is moved .to the left, the yrefrigerant in .the cylinder bore n58 is compressed and at the same time the 'groove 91 moves out of register with the groove 96. The conrpressed gaseous refrigerant in thecylinder bore 58 tends to leak between the piston 49 and the surrounding wall of the cylinder 5I. 'This leaking refrigerant enters the groove 9,1, however, and displaces a portion of the lubricant therefrom. This displaced lubricant is forced into' the small clearance space between the piston 49 and the wall of the cylinder 5I and forms a seal, thus effectually preventing the escape of compressed refrigerant from the cylinder bore 58 without the necessity of providing packing rings or the like on the piston 48. When the piston 48 is again moved to its retracted position, the groove 81 comes into register withv the groove 96 and since the lubricant is being rapidly circulated ythrough the groove 96, any gaseous refrigerant which is entrapped in -the groove 81 is carried away by a. stream of lubricant and later returned to the main body of gaseous refrigerant as is explained below. This arrangement also effectually lubricates the contacting surfaces 'of the piston 49 and the cylinder 5|. Lubricant in the groove 86 is forced upwardl therefrom through an L-shaped conduit 88 which communicates with the upper side of the groove 96, the outer end 89 of the conduit 98 being closed. A small hole |88 is provided in the side of the conduit 88 and allows a portion of the lubricant in the conduit 98 to pass .therefrom into a recess I8I formed in the top of the compressor I5. The recess I8I is covered by a plate |82 which is secured to the compressor by a screw |83. Lubricant passing through the recess I8I drains down across the valved endof the compressor I5 into a cup |84 which is secured to the side of the motor I6.

'I'he main portion of the lubricant in the conduit 88 passes upwardly therethrough and is discharged therefrom through a vertically extending nozzle |85. The lubricant Idischarged from the nozzle |85 passes through an aperture |86 formed in a horizontal baille |81. which is supported on studs |88 and |88, the studs beingwelded, or otherwise secured, to the top of the casing I8.

An outwardly extending recess II8 is provided in the top of the casing I8 opposite the nozzle 85 and serves to distribute the lubricant discharged from the nozzle |85 evenly over the inner surface of the top of the casing I8; 'Ihe lubricant thus distributed flows through notches III provided about the periphery of the horizontal baille |81 and drains down the vertical side walls of the casing I8' to; the reservoir formed in the bottom thereof. Since the exterior of the casing 8 is in contact with a body of cooling air, the lubricant passing over the inner surface of the casing I8 is' cooled thereby.I An annulus of fins I I2 surrounds thecasing I8 and aid in the dissipation of heat therefrom.

N 'Ihe lubricant which collects in the cup. |84 ilows therefrom through an aperture I|8 into an annular chamber |I4 formed between the top of the stator 88 and the end shield 35. 'I'he lubricant thus corrected 1n the chamber m news2 lll downwardly through the slots Sila in which the energizing windings till are located and absorbs heat therefrom. After' draining through the slots 34a in the stator the lubricant is collected in a reservoir ll provided in the lower end shield where it surrounds the lower ends ol the energizing windings Sil. Lubricant supplied to the top of the cranl; ld flows downwardly over the right hand side of the motor [It into a cup lili, which communicates with the reservoir lib. The lubricant accumulated in the reservoir M5 ows therefrom through an aperture (not shown) provided adjacent one of the helical supporting springs lll. The lubricant directed on to the supporting spring l@ flows down the same and into the body of lubricant G2 in the reservoir formed in the lower section l2 of the casing ld.

The lubricating system and lubricant cooling system described above are not my invention, but are the invention o Christian Steenstrup and are described and claimed in his application Serial No. 1,319, filed January l1, 1935, and assigned to the General Electric Company, the assignee of my present invention.

In the operation of the reirigerating machine described above, gaseous refrigerant in the casing lll, which is at the low pressure existing in the evaporator t28, enters an intake muffler lll, passes through av conduit llt to a lchamber ll@ formed in the muflie bor; 5G and is drawn therefrom through the valved intake passage 55 into the bore bil of the compressor cylinder lil. cous refrigerant compressed in the cylinder 5l by the piston 1Q passes therefrom through the valved exhaust passages into an exhaust chamber l2@ formed in the inutile box 5d throng l a conduit E2G to an exhaust mufllerbl' and from there through a conduit i123.

rThe conduit U23, which is relatively horrible, being made of copper tubing or the like, is secured to a relatively heavy rigid support in order to prevent vibration thereof. In the illustrative form of my invention, the conduit H23 is soldered, or otherwise secured, Vas indicated at lilla in Figs. 2 and 5, to the periphery of the motor lli, thus providing a rigid mounting for the conduit 023.

secured inthis manner to the periphery of the motor l t, that is it extends about approximately one-sixth of the circumference of the motor. The conduit and muffler mounting described above is described and claimed in my copending'divi-A4 sional application Serial No. 26,797 led June l5,

1935 and assigned to the General Electric Com= pany, the assignee of my present invention.

The lower portion of the conduitv H23 is helical in form, thus providing a resilient connection between the unitary compressor motor structure which is free to vibrate on the springs il), 2@ `and 2l and the rigidly mounted casing lll. lhe increased length of the conduit 23 so provided also aids in dissipating the vibratory energy oi the compressed gaseous refrigerant contained therein and hence in the suppression of noise caused thereby. The compressed gaseous refrig= erant passes through a conduit l23 to a condenser ltd which is cooled by natural draft and which surrounds the casing l il being mounted on the annulus of heat conducting ns H2. Il'he com.`= pressed gaseous refrigerant is liquefied in the condenser lZ and ows therefrom through a conduit W5, a flow controlling oat valve |26 and a conduit l2l to an evaporator |28. The evaporator arcas-cs ze Gasit@ is supported in a cooling compartment on the heat insulated removable top figc. The liquid refrigerant contained in the evaporator t28 is vaporized by the absorption of heat from articles contained in the cooling compartment in which the evaporator is located and the refrigerant thus vaporized passes from the evaporator l2@ through a suction conduit H29 baclr to the casing lll. lt will be noted that the disclmrge end t3@ oi the suction conduit i129 is located above the normal level oi the lubricant @i2 in the reser voir formed in the lower section l2 ci the casing l0. The vaporized refrigerant thus discharged in the casing l@ is again drawn into the intake murder lll and the cycle, above described, is repeated. It will be seen that the casing [lll is normally lled with vaporized gaseous relrign 'erant above the level oi the lubricant till and any refrigerant which may have been entrapped in the lubricant while the latr is passing through the compressor i and the motor l@ will be re'- leased from the relatively quiet body of lubricant and will be again mingled with the low pres= sure gaseous refrigerant thereabove.

'While have shown a particular embodiment ci my invention in connection with a compresH sion rerigerating machine, l do not desire my infa vention to be limited to the particular construea tion shown and described, and l intend inthe appended claims to cover all modications within. the spirit and scope of my invention.

lhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, a plurality of parts having contacting relatively moving surfaces, a lubricant reservoir, means including a closed series lubricant circuit rorrecirculating lubricant `from said reservoir to said relatively moving surfaces to lubricate the same, means connected in said series lubricant circuit for controlling the loa/ding tor supplying lubricant to said relatively moving surfaces, means including a chamber having an. inlet and an outlet through which the lubricant flows continuously to ,said moving surfaces and dependent upon a predetermined rate of ow of lubricant for loading said compressor when said lubricant is supplied to said relatively moving surfaces at a rate exceeding a predetermined value,

,and means including a sharp edged orifice located at said outlet oi said chamber for diverting a prem determined part of the lubricant from said chamber to said compressor irrespective of the viscosity of the lubricant.

3. A refrigerating machine comprising a redetermined rate or" flow of lubricant for loadingY said compressor when said lubricant is supplied to said compressor'at a rate exceeding a. prede- 75' termined value and for unloading said compressor when said lubricant is supplied to said compressor and motor at a rate less than a predetermined value, and means including a sharp edged orifice located at said outlet of said chamber for diverting a predetermined part of the lubricant from said chamber to said compressor irrespective of the viscosity of the lubricant. L

4. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, means for supplying lubri- -cant under pressure, means including a chamber accumulating said lubricant supplied under pressure for controlling the loading of said compressor, means including a sharp-edged orifice continuously diverting a predetermined part of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber irrespective ofthe viscosity of said lubricant for lubricating said compressor, and means diverting an additional part of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum.

5. A refrlgerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, an unloader cylinder, a piston movable in saidl unloader cylinder, lmeans supplying lubricant under pressure to said unloader cylinder `for actuating said piston, means responsive to the movement of said piston for controlling the loading of said compressor, means including a constantly open port in said cylinder and a sharp-edged orifice registeringwith said port diverting a predetermined part oi the lubricant from said cylinder irrespective of the viscosity of said lubricant for lubricating said compressor irrespective of' the position of said piston in said unloader cylinder, and means diverting an additional partA of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum for limiting the movement of, said piston.

6. A-refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, a. motor for driving said compressor, an unloader cylinder, apiston movable ,in said unloader cylinder, means including 'a pump driven by said motor and supplying lubril cant under pressure to said unloader cylinderjor actuating said piston, means responsive to the movement of said piston forcontrolling the loading of said compressor, means including a constantly open port in said unloader' cylinder and a sharp-edged oriiice` registering with said port diverting la predetermined part of the lubricant :from said' cylinder irrespective of the viscosity to the movement of said piston for controlling the loading of said compressor, means for biasing said piston toward a positionl in which said compressor is unloaded, means including a constantly open port in said unloader cylinder and a sharpedged orice registering with said port diverting@ a predetermined part of the lubricant from said cylinder irrespective of the'visco'sity oi' the lubricant for lubricating said compressorirrespective of the position of said piston in said unloader cvlinder, and means diverting an additional part -of said piston.

of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber through said port when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum for limiting the movement of said piston.

8. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, an unloader cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, means supplying lubricant under pressure .to said unloader cylinder for actuating said piston, means including a valve and responsive to the movement of said piston for controlling the loading of said com'-l pressor, means for biasing said piston toward a position in which said compressor is unloaded, means including a constantly open port in said unloader cylinder and a sharp-edged orifice registering with said port diverting -a predetermined part of the lubricant from said cylinder irrespective of the viscosity of the lubricant for lubrieating said compressor irrespective of the position of said piston in said unloader cylinder, and

means diverting an additional part of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber through said port when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum for limiting the movement of said piston.

9. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor provided with inlet and exhaust valves, an unloader cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, means supplying lubricant under pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston, means responsive to the movement of said piston and engaging one of said valves of said compressor for controlling the loading of said compressor, means including a constantly open 4 port in said unloader cylinder and a sharp-edged orifice registering with said port diverting a predetermined part of the lubricant from said cylinder irrespective of the viscosity of the lubricant for lubricating said compressor irrespective of the position of said piston in said unloader cylinder, and means diverting an additional part of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber through said port when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum for Hunting the movement of said piston.

10. A refrigerating machine comprising a re`- frigerant compressor provided with inlet and exnaustl valves, an unloader cylinder, a. piston movable in said unloader cylinder, means supplying lubricant under pressure to said cylinder for.

actuating said piston, means responsive to the movement of said piston and engaging said inlet valves of said compressor for lcontrolling the loading ofk said compressor, means including a compression spring for biasing said piston toward a position in which Isaid compressor is unloaded,

means including a constantlyopen port in said 'unloader cylinder and a sharp-edged orifice registering with said port diverting a predetermined part ofthe lubricant -from said cylinder irrespective oi' the viscosity of the lubricant for lubrieating said compressor irrespective of the position of said piston in said unloader cylinder, and means diverting an additional part of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber through said port when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum for hunting the movement i 11. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor provided with a compression cylinder, an inlet valve for said compre'ssion carried by said compressor and arranged parallel tosaid compression cylinder and with one end cylinder located at one end thereof, a motor for.

driving said compressor, an unloader cylinder lil thereof adjacent said inlet valve, a piston movable in said unloader cylinder, means including a pump driven by said motor and supplying lubricant under pressure to said unloader cylinder Vfor actuating said piston, means including a U-shaped operating rod secured to said piston and operatively associated With said inlet valve for controlling the loading of said compressor, means'including a compression spring for biasing said operating rod toward a position in which it holds said inlet valve open. means including a constantly open port in lsaid unloader cylinder and a sharp-edged orifice registering with said port diverting a predetermined part of the lubricant from said unloader cylinder for lubricating said compressor, irrespective of the position of said piston in saidfunloader cylinder, and means diverting an additional part of the lubricant accumulated in Vsaid chamber when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum for limiting the movement of said piston.

12. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor provided with a compression cylinder, an inlet valve for said compression cylinder located one end thereof, a motor for driving 'smd compressor, an unloader cylinder carried by said compression cylinder and arranged parallel to said compression cylinder `with one end thereof adjacent said inlet valve, a piston movable in said uploader cylinder, means including a pump driven by said motor and supplying lubricant under pressure to said uploader cylinder for actuating said piston, means includv ing a ll-shaped operating rod secured to said piston and operatively associated with said inlet Y valve for controlling the loading of said compressor, and means including a compression spring for biasing said operating rodv toward a position in which it holds said inlet valve open.

13. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, means supplying lubricant under pressure for lubricating said compressor, means for controlling the loading of said compressor in response to the pressure oi said lubricant, and means including a sharp edged orifice for causing said loading controlling means to be 'unresponsive to changes in viscosity of said lubricant.

lll. A refrigerating machine comprising a reirigerant compressor, means supplying lubricant under pressure for lubricating said compressor, means including ay chamber accumulating said lubricant ier controlling the loading and unload'- ing oi said compressor, means diverting part of the lubricant accumulated in said chamber for lubricating ,said compressor during loaded and unloaded operation thereof, and means including a sharp edged orice for causing said loading and unloading controlling means. to be unresponsive `yto changes in viscosity of said lubricant.

l5. A reirigerating machine comprising a reirigerant compressor, an unloader cylinder, a pis= ton movable in -`said cylinder, means supplying lubricant under pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston, means responsive to the A frigerant compressor provided with inlet and exhaust valves, an uploader cylinder, a piston cant from said cylinder irrespective of the vls'- cosity ofthe lubricant for lubricating said compressor irrespective of the position of said piston in said cylinder.

17. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor provided with a compression cylinder, an inlet valve. for said compression cylinder located'at one end thereof, a motor for driving said compressor, an unloader cylinder carried by said compressor and arranged parallel to said compression cylinder, a piston movable in said unloader cylinder, means including a pump driven by said motor andsupplying lubricant under pressure to said unloader cylinder for actuating said piston, Ymeans including a U- shaped operating rod secured to said piston and` operatively associated with said inlet valve for controlling the loading of said compressor, means including a compression spring for biasing said operating rod toward a position in which it holds said inlet valve open, and means including a sharp edged oriiice in said piston and a constantly open port registering with said orice in said piston when said compressor is unloaded for diverting a predetermined part of the lubricant from said cylinder irrespective of the viscosity oi the lubricant for lubricating said compressor irrespective oi the position of said piston in said cylinder.

i3. An unloading mechanism for a compressor or 'the like comprising a chamber having a movable `Wall, means supplying an accumulation oi ing said movable Wall, means responsive to the movement of saidA movable wall under the inuence of said accumulation of liquid for controlling the loading of a compressor, and means including a sharp edged orice having an unobstructed approach thereto for diverting a predetermined portion of said accumulation of liquid from said chamber irrespective of the viscosity of the liquid. L

. lli. .ein unloading mechanism for a compressor or the likecomprising an unloader cylinder, a

piston movable in said unloader cylinder, means supplying an accumulation of fluid under pressure to said cylinder' for actuating said piston, means responsive to the movement of said piston in said cylinder under the influence of said fluid for controlling the loading and unloading of a compressor, and means including a sharp edged oriiice diverting a portion of said accumulation oi duid from said cylinder for causing said loading and unloading controlling means to lieV unresponsive to changes in the viscosity of said fluid.

2c. an unloading mechanism for a compressor or the like comprising an unloader cylinder, a piston movable in said unloader cylinder, means supplying an accumulation of iluid under pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston,

means responsive to the movement of said piston for controlling the loading of a compressor, and

unobstructed approach thereto for diverting a predetermined portion ofthe accumulation of liquid under pressure to said chamber for actuatlmeans including a sharp edged orice havlngan fluid from said unloader cylinder irrespective of the viscosity of the fluid.

21. An unloading mechanism for a compressor or the like comprising a cylinder provided with an outlet port in a side wall thereof, a piston movable in said cylinder and having a cylindrical portion extending beyond the head thereof and normally overlying said outlet port, means supplying an accumulationv of fluid under pressure to said chamber for actuating said piston, means responsive to the movement of said piston for controlling the loading of a compressor, and means including a sharp edged orifice formed in said cylindrical portion of said piston and registering with said outlet port when said piston is in the unloading position for diverting a predetermined portion of the fluid accumulated in said cylinder irrespective of the viscosity of the fluid.

22. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor provided with a compression cylinder, an inlet valve for vsaid compression cylinder located at one end thereof, a motor for driving said compressor, an unloader cylinder carried by said compressor and arranged parailel to said compression cylinder, a piston movable in said unloader cylinder and having a cylindrical portion extending beyond the head thereof, means including a pump driven by saidy motor supplying lubricant under pressure to said unloader cylinder for actuating said piston, means including a U-shaped operating rod secured to said piston and operatively associated with said inlet valve for controllingthe loading of said' compressor, means including a compression spring for biasing said operating rod toward a position in which it holds said inlet valve open, and means including a. sharp edged orifice in the cylindrical portion of said piston and a constantly open port in said compression cylinder registering With said orifice when said piston is in the unloading position for diverting a predetermined part of the lubricant from-said cylinder irrespective of the viscosity of the lubricant and 'for lubricating said compressor irrespective of 'unload said compressor and for maintaining said compressor unloaded until said excess of vaporizable refrigerant is removed from said lubricant. 24. A refrigerating machine including a closed compression system containing a vaporizable refrigerant and a-lubricant in direct contact, a

motor and a refrigerant compressor enclosed '1n quate lubrication for causing said last mentioned means to unload said compressor and for main:-l

taining said compressor unloaded until said excess of vaporizable refrigerant is removed from said lubricant.

25. A refrigerating machine including a closed compression system containing a vaporizable refrigerant and a lubricant in direct contact, a motor and a refrigerant compressor in said system, said compressor being provided with inlet and exhaust valves, means supplying lubricant under pressure for lubricating said compressor, Y

means to unload said compressor and for maintaining said compressor unloaded untilsaid excess of vaporizable-refrigerant is removed from said lubricant.

26. A refrigerating machine comprising a refrigerant compressor, means dependent upon the operation of said compressor for supplying a liquid under pressure, means for controlling the `loading of said compressor in response to the pressure of said liquid, and means including a sharp edged orifice and an arrangement causing said liquid to flow through' said orifice for caus- HARLEY H. BIXLER.

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