US2135091A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 1, 1938. E, B NEWILL 2,135,091

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. fan/mu .8. IVA-VILL #ls ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 1, 1938. E. B. NEWILL 2,135,091

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //S ATTORNEYS.

Nov. l, 1938. E. B. NEWILL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filevd Jan. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. famme /Vsw/LL.

*l :I 1^ i u'. M. HIS ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 1, 1938. E.- B. NEwlLl.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. [pn/me 3. /Vcw/u..

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//S ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 l I i UNITED S-TAT'ES'PATENT OFFICE nEFmGanAriNG APPARATUS Edward B. Newill, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of` Delaware Appuemon January zz, 1936, serial No. sagaz i 1o claims: (ci. sz-sa) This invention relates to refrigeration and parscription, reference being had to the accompanyticularly to refrigerator cabinets having a reing drawings, wherein a preferred form of the frigerating apparatus installed therein. present invention is clearly shown.

It has been found that the low temperature In the drawings: .5 ordinarily maintained within a refrigerator cab- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a refriger- 5 inet leaks past or is transmitted beyond the Seal ator cabinet having one form of my invention on a. door which closes an access opening in the embodied therein;

, cabinet wall and chills the exterior surface of Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View the cabinet adjacent the door opening, below the taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. v1 showing a conduit dew point of moisture contained in air surroundportion of a condenser of a refrigerating system 10 ing the cabinet, thus causing accumulation of imbedded in the cabinet wall;

moisture on these exposed Surfaces of the cabinet. Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a refrig- 'I'his accumulation or condensation of moisture erator cabinet having another form of my invenon the exterior cabinet walls soon causes distion embodied therein;

colorization and deterioration of the exterior n- Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view 15 ish provided on the cabinet. Elaborate sealing taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showing an means has heretofore been provided around the electrical resistance heating element imbedded in door opening or openings of such cabinets and the cabinet wall;

these sealing means have, for example, been in Fig. 5 iS e diagrammatic Showing of an electhe form of double gaskets or a plurality of trical circuit for a refrigerating system installed 20 spaced apart gaskets either secured to the door in the Cabinets Shown in FigS- 1 and 3; or to the cabinet. In addition expensive insulat- Fig. 6 iS a freni? elevational View of a refriging trim strips or molding members have been erator cabinet having my invention embodied employed for breaking the thermal conduction therein and having a closed refrigerating system between the metal interior and the metal outer installed in the cabinet in a manner to permitre- 25 walls of refrigerator cabinets about door openmoval of the system as a unit from the cabinet; ings provided therein. Such trim strips and seal- Fig. 'I is an enlarged fragmentary vertical secing means have presented a complicated and extional view through the cabinet Shown in Fig. 6 pensive structure and at best have not been enand taken on the line 1-1 thereof;

tirely satisfactory. My invention is therefore di- Fig. 3 iS a SeCtiOnal View 0f a DOI'tion 0f the 30 rected to an improved structure for overcoming cabinet shown in Fig. 6 and is taken on the line the difficulties enumerated. 8-8 of'Fig. '1;

An object of the present invention is to pro- Fig- 9 iS an enlarged fragmenten? hOl'iZOntl vide means for preventing condensation of mois- Sectional View thIOiigh the cabinet ShOWn in Figva5 ture on the outsideef a cabinet housing a refrig- 6 and taken on the line 9 9 thereof erating apparatus and particularly adjacent door Fig- 10 iS a fragmentary Perspective view taken u openings provided in the cabinet, in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 7; and

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 11 iS 9- fraEmeniSa-i'y View 0f the Cabineii means within the walls of a refrigerator cabinet disclosed in Fig. 6 with the facing about the door for imparting heat to that portion of the cabinet opening thereof removed to show the refrigerant n adjacent the door opening provided therein. pipes Within the cabinet walls.

A further object of theinvention is to provide Referring to the drawings, for the purpose of means within thewalls of a refrigerator cabinet illustrating my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 for imparting heat to that portion of the cabinet thereof a refrigerator cabinet generally repreadjacent the door opening thereof which means sented by the reference character Ill. The cabi- 45 is a part of and energized or rendered effective net III includes an inner metal member II (see by operation of the refrigerating apparatus asso- Fig. 2) forming the lining of a food storage comciated with or installed in the cabinet. partment I2 and an outer metal member or shell In carrying outthe foregoing objects it isla I3. I'he metal members Il and I3 are spaced still further object of "the invention to provide apart to provide a chamber which is filled with 50 the means above described in a refrigerator cabany suitable or desirable insulating material Il. inet having a closed refrigerating system installed The compartment I2 is provided with an access therein and removable therefrom as a unit. opening I5 adapted to be closed by a door I8 Further objects and advantages of the present which 'c'arries a resilient gasket I1 for engaging invention will be apparent from the following dethe outer shell I3 to prevent free circulation of air u to and from the compartment I2 when door I 3 is closed. Cabinet I0 'is provided with a machine compartment I3 which is adapted to contain or house any suitable or conventional refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit generally represented by the reference character I9 of a closed refrigerating system associated with or installed in the cabinet. 'I'he refrigerating system includes in addition to the unit I9 an evaporator or cooling element 2| mounted in the food compartment I2 and adapted to produce a refrigerating effect for cooling and causing circulation of air within the compartment I2 in the well-known manner.

lA gaseous refrigerant conduit 22 leads from the evaporator 2| to the compressor of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit to permit the compressor to withdraw refrigerant evaporated in the cooling element 2| to the unit I9. 'I'he liquid refrigerant conduit 23 which ordinarily extends directly from the receiver or .condenserreceiver of a refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit in an apparatus of the type disclosed has a loop portion 24 formed therein and which loop is located or imbedded in the wall of the cabinet I0 in a manner and fora purpose to now be described.

The loop portion 24 of conduit 23 may be imbedded in rubber or plastic material 26 provided at the front of cabinet I0 and within the chamber containing the insulation I4. Conduit loop portion 24 is positioned in contact with the inner metal liner II or with an extension 25 provided thereon and which extension forms the wall of the door opening I5 of cabinet I0. The metallic wall extension 25 may, if desired, be spaced or insulated from the compartment liner I I and the cabinet exterior shell or panel I3. It is well known that refrigerant liquefied in conventional refrigerant liquefying and circulating units and being directed to an evaporator is warm and is often conveyed through a heat exchanger prior to being admitted to the evaporator for expansion. 'I'he heat of the liquid refrigerant passing from the receiver to the evaporator of a refrigerating system in an apparatus of the type disclosed is utilized for accomplishing the objects of the present invention. For example,'warm liquid refrigerant flowing through conduit 23 and conduit loop 24 gives up its heat to the metal liner II at the front of compartment I2 and inwardly of the wall portion of cabinet III sealed by gasket I1 or to the metal wall 25 to cause the air adjacent the seal I1 and door opening I5 to be warmed. Warming-of air about the door opening I 5 within compartment I2 does not materially effect the temperature maintained in the food storage com'- partment and this warm air provides a warm zone intermediate the seal I1 and the food compartmentproper to thus prevent transmission of cold to a point beyond the gasket seal I1 on the outer Wall I3 of cabinet I0. This prevents the exterior wall I3 of cabinet III adjacent the gasket seal I1 from being chilled below the dew point of water contained in atmosphere surrounding the cabinet and thereby prevents condensation of moisture on the exterior wall surface of the cabinet.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings wherein I have shown a modified construction for accomplishing the objects of the invention there is provided an electrical resistance unit 21 around the door opening I5 of cabinet I0. In this form of the invention the electrical resistance unit 21 may 15 comprise a plurality of tlu'ns of small wire 29 imbedded or located in an insulating block or strip 29. The one end of wire 23 is connected to a wire 3| while the other end thereof is connected by a wire 32 (see Fig. 3). Wires 3| and 32 are connected in parallel circuit relation with wires 33 and 34 leading to the motor.' indicated at 35 in Fig. 5, of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit I9. The power lines 33 and 34 leading to motor 35 are connectedand disconnected by any conventional switch 35 actuated in any suitable manner well-known to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that when the circuit is completed by switch 39 through the power lines 33 and 34 to motor 35 the circuit is also completed through the heater 21 to energize same and cause heat to be imparted to the metal liner I I or its continuation 25 at the door opening I5. While I have disclosed the heater 21 as being energized only when the motor 35 of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit I9 is operated It is apparent that the heater 21 may, if desired, be arranged to be energized at all times while the power circuit leading to the control switch 35 is closed. 'I'he electric heater 21 will, as explained in referring to the structure disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, warm that portion of the compartment I2 about the door opening I5 to prevent the low temperature of compartment I2 from being transmitted to the exterlior of cabinet I0 beyond the gasket door seal 1.

I have shown in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive of the drawings 'a refrigerating apparatus of the socalled removable unit type in which the refrigerating system may be bodily removed from the cabinet without disconnecting any of its refrigerant lines. In this showing of the invention it is to be noted that I apply the idea disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of heating by heat dissipated from the relatively warm liquid refrigerant pipe line leading to the evaporator of the refrigerating system. In the construction disclosed in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive the inner metal lining 4I of the refrigerator cabinet 40 is held in spaced relation to the metal cabinet exterior shell or panel 42 by a block of insulating material 43 (see Figs. 9 and and l1) and the lining 4| and shell or panel 42 are secured to the block 43 by screws 44. The extension of the liner 4I about the door opening of cabinet 49 is provided by a separate piece of metal 45 which is detachably secured to liner 4| by a plurality of screws 45. In this form of the invention the gasket seal 41 for door 49 is secured in a space provided along the front depressed edge of the cabinet exterior shell or panel 42. Gasket seal 41 is firmly held in place by the clamping action of the screws 45 which holds the member 45 in position. Since in this construction both the gaseous refrigerant return pipe 22 and the liquid refrigerant pipe 23 extend upwardly about the cabinet door opening within the front portion of the cabinet and since the refrigerating system is of the type which is to be bodily removed from the cabinet 40 as a unit provisions must be made to permit removal of the refrigerant pipes 22 and 23 along with the evaporator or cooling element 2| and the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit I9 from the cabinet. To this end I have provided a space 5I set back from the exterior front of cabinet 40. 'I'he refrigerant pipe lines 22 and 23 extend through the setback space 5I and have suitable rubber or the like packing members 52 surrounding same at the point where they enter the cabinet wall. A plate 53 removably secured to the front wall of cabinet 49 by screws or the like 54 covers or conceals the pipes 22 and 2l and the packing members 52. The pipe 23 has conduit connections 55 and 51 which extend o utwardly and upwardly around the door opening I5 andwithin the space 5| in the cabinet front wall beneath the metal member 45 attached to the food compartment hner 4|. These pipe connections or extensions 55 and 51 merge or are connected 'together at the top of the cabinet by a pipe 58 which leads to the evaporator 2|. The pipe 22 is positioned-beyond the pipe 23 and extends through thepacking members 52 and space 5I, thence toward one side of the cabinet 40 and upwardly to a point adjacent the top of the cabinet wherethe pipes 55 and 51 merge into pipe 58. The pipe 22 lies alongside the pipe 58 at the top of the cabinet and extends outwardly of the space 5| into the food compartmentand is connected to the evaporator 2|. A suitable packing member 55, such as rubber, surrounds the pipes 22, 56, 51 and 58 at the top of the cabinet and fits within the space 5| beneath the metal member 45. It will be noted that the gaseous refrigerant return pipe 22 of the refrigerating system is spaced inwardly of and out of contact with the door opening metal cover 45 and is surrounded by the insulation BI which may be of a loose material, such as is known to the trade as Balsam wool or Kapok. Those portions 56 and 51 of the liquid refrigerant supply pipe 23 located beyond the packing members 52 and 59 lie in intimate thermal contact with the curved portion of the metal door opening cover member 45 as is best seen in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Therefore relatively warm liquid refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit I9 through pipe 23 and pipes 55 and 51 transmits its heat through pipes 55 and 51 to the metal door opening wallforming member 45 to cause Warming o'f air in that portion of the compartment |2 adjacent the door opening in the refrigerator cabinet 40 inwardly of the gasket seal 41. This relatively warm section of the interior of the food compartment of cabinet 40 prevents transmission of cold from the interior of the cabinet to the exterior metal wall thereof about the periphery of door 48. Sweating or condensation of moisture on the cabinet exterior metal wall about the opening closed by door 48 is consequently eliminated.

In Fig. 10 it will be seen that a box-like metal member 54 is suitably attached to the cabinet exterior metal shell 42 such as by being welded thereto and extends inwardly of the front wall of the cabinet into the space 5|. This box-like element 54 providesa housing for receiving the refrigerant pipes 22 and 23 and their packing 52. lI'he packing 52 and the metal door opening wall- .forming member 45 have been eliminated from the showing in Fig. l0 for the sake of clearness. A metal slide 65 which engages the inner edge portion of an opening 55 provided in the cabinet exterior shell 42 is adapted to compress the pack- .ing 52 around the refrigerant pipes 22 and 25 to maintain same in position.

When the refrigerating system, installed in the cabinet 40 in the manner described, is to be removed from cabinet 40 for any purpose whatever the front cover plate 53 (see Figs. '1 and 10) is removed from the front wall of the cabinet. The screws 45 are then removed in order to permit the metal door opening wall-forming member 45 to be detached from the cabinet. It is to be understood that in detaching the one-piece member 45 from cabinet 4l the gasket seal 41 is also removed from the cabinet. After'removing the elements in the manner thus far described the plate 55, made accessible by detachment of cover 55 and member 45 from the cabinet 40, is then moved upwardly out of the boxlike housing 54. The structure with the elements thus far described as being removed from the cabinet is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings and it will be noted by referring to this gurethat v the evaporator or cooling element 2|, upon being detached from the food compartment wall, can be removed from the cabinet 40 along with the refrigerant" pipes 22,25, 55, 51 and 58 and to- -gether with the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit I9. Thus the entire refrigerating system is bodily removable'from cabinet 4| without disconnecting any of the refrigerant pipe lines.

I am aware of the fact that complete refrigerating systems have previously been made removable from a cabinet asl a unit by installing the refrigerant lines within grooves along the front wall of the cabinet in which the door opening is provided. However, in such structures the refrigerant pipes were widely spaced and insulated from the door opening trim strips or molding members and it was the intention of such structures to prevent transmission ofk heatfrom these pipes through the trim strips to the `in terior of the food compartment. My invention is to be distinguished from such prior structures as described in thatV it is an object of this invention to locate the relatively warm liquid refrigerant pipeor pipes, in intimate thermal contact or association with the door opening wall-forming member so as to permit warming of that portion of the interior of the food compartment adjacent the door at the front of the cabinet for the purpose herein disclosed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved refrigerating apparatus wherein means is. provided for eliminating the condensation of moisture on the exterior metal wall of the refrigerator cabinet adjacent the food compartment access opening. In one form of my invention I utilize heat evaporated by a part or element of the refrigerating system associated with a cabinet for accomplishing the objects desired. The means for imparting heat to the walls of the food compartment access opening is in the present invention normally ineffective and rendered effective automatically by operation of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit. Thus `I have provided means for preventing chilling of the metal exterior cabinet wall and thereby eliminate objections to prior refrigerating apparatus.`

While the form of embodiment of the inven-` tion vas herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms"V l, combination, a cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith, said cabinet being provided with a food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof adapted to engagevsaid cabinet about said access opening for closing same, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating sys- `tem also including a refrigerant circulating unit operatively connected to said cooling element and located exteriorly of said food compartment, a metal member forming the walls of said food storage compartment access opening and forining as well a continuation of the food compartment walls and the cabinet exterior walls, means breaking the metal-to-metal contact of said metal member with the exterior walls of said cabinet, said means forming a seal for the food storage compartment access opening and being adapted to be engaged by said door, and means for imparting heat to the walls of said ,cabinet adjacent the point of engagement of said door with said seal, said last named means being`in intimate thermal contact with the walls of said cabinet and being normally ineiective and rendered effective automatically by operation of said refrigerant circulating unit.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith, said cabinet being provided with a food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part therof adapted to engage said cabinet about said access opening for closing same, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also including a refrigerant circulating unit located exteriorly of said food compartment and having a iluid conducting pipe connection with said cooling element, means forming Walls of said access opening to said food storage compartment, and at least a portion of said fluid conducting pipe connection being disposed in intimate thermal association with said access opening wall-forming means for transferring heat of iluid conducted through the pipe to said access opening wall.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith, said cabinet being provided with a food storage compartment having an access opening, a, door having a part thereof adapted to engage said cabinet about said access opening for closing same, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also including a refrigerant circulating unit located exteriorly of said food compartment and having a fluid conducting pipe connection with said cooling element, a sheet metal member forming walls of said access opening to said food storage compartment, and at least a portion of said fluid conducting pipe connection being disposed in intimate thermal contact with the metal access opening wall for transferring heat of fluid conducted through the pipe to said access opening wall inwardly of the point at which the door engages the cabinet.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith, said cabinet being provided with a food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof adapted to engage said cabinet about said access opening for closing same, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also including a refrigerant circulating unit located exteriorly of said food compartment and having a fluid conducting pipe connection with said cooling element, means forming walls of said access opening to said food storage compartment, at least a portion of said fluid conducting pipe connection being disposed in intimate thermal association with said access opening wall-forming means for transferring heat of uid conducted through the pipe to said access opening wall, said access opening wall-forming means being detachably secured to said cabinet, and said closed refrigerating system being removable from said cabinet as a unit upon detachment of said access opening wallforming means therefrom.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith, said cabinet being provided with a food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof4 adapted to 'engage said cabinet about said access opening for closing same, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food st'rage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also including a refrigerant circulating unit located exteriorly of said food compartment and having a fluid conducting pipe connection with said cooling element, means forming walls of said access opening to said food storage compartment, a portion of said fluid conducting pipe connection extending substantially entirely around the access opening and being disposed in intimate thermal association with said access opening wall-forming means for transferring heat of fluid conducted through the pipe to said access opening wall inwardly of the point at which the door engages the cabinet, said access opening wallforming means being detachably secured to said cabinet, and said closed refrigerating system being removable from said cabinet as a unit upon detachmentof said access opening wall-forming means therefrom.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an outer wall structure forming a cabinet, said cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith and being provided with an insulated food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof adapted to engage the outer wall structure of said cabinet about said access opening for closing the opening, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within said cabinet and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also comprising a refrigerant circulating unit operatively connected to said cooling element and located exteriorly of said food compartment, means extending across said food compartment access opening to form the walls thereof, and heat dissipating means disposed in heat exchange relationship with said food compartment access opening wall forming means, said heat dissipating means being adapted to impart heat to the walls of said access opening inwardly of said cabinet from the point at whichthe door engages the outer wall structure thereof for maintaining air in the space between said door and walls of the access opening at a relatively higher temperature than air within the food storage compartment proper.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an outer wall structure forming a cabinet, said cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith and being provided with an insulated food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof adapted to engage the outer wall structure of said cabinet about said access opening for closing the opening, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also comprising a refrigerant circulating unit operatively connected to said cooling element and located exteriorly of said food compartment, metallic means insulated from the outer wall structure of said cabinet and extending across said food compartment access opening to form the walls thereof, heat dissipating means disposed in heat exchange relationship with said food compartment access opening wallforming means, said heat dissipating means being adapted to impart heat to the walls of said access opening inwardly of said cabinet from the point at which the door engages the outer wall structure thereof for maintaining air in the space between said door and walls of the access opening at a relatively higher temperature than air within the food storage compartment proper, and said heat dissipating means extending substantially entirely around the food compartment access opening.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising 1n combination, an outer wall structure forming a cabinet, said cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith and being provided with an insulated food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof adapted to engage the outer wall structure of said cabinet about said access opening for clos-` ing the opening, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also'comprising a refrigerant circulating untoperatively connected to said cooling element and located exteriorly of said food compartment, means extending across said food compartment access opening to form the walls thereof, heat dissipating means disposed in heat exchange relationship with said food compartment access opening wall-forming means,

said heat dissipating means being adapted to impart heat to the walls of said access opening inwardly of said cabinet from the point at which the door engages the outer wall structure thereof for maintaining air in the space between said door and walls of the access opening at a relatively higher temperature than air within the food storage compartment proper, and said heat dissipating means being normally ineffective and rendered eiective automatically by operation of said refrigerant circulating unit.v

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an outer wall structure forming a cabinet, said cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith and being pro' vided with an insulated food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having a part thereof adapted to engage the outer wall structure of said cabinet about said access opening for closing the opening, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted to maintain said food storage compartment between predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also comprising a refrige'rant circulating unit operatively connected to said cooling element and located exteriorly of said food compartment, metallic means insulated from the outer wall structure of said cabinet and extending across said food compartment access opening to form the walls thereof, heat dissipating means disposed in heat exchange relationship with said food compartment access opening wall-formingmeans, said heat dissipating means being adapted to impart heat to the walls of said access opening inwardly of said cabinet from the point at which the door engages the outer wall structure thereof for maintaining air in the space between said door and walls of the access opening at a relatively higher tempera,- ture than air Within the food storage compartment proper, and said heat dissipating means extending substantially entirely around the food compartment access opening and being normally ineiective and rendered effective automatically by operation of said refrigerant circulating unit.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an outer Wall structure forming a cabinet, said cabinet having a closed refrigerating system associated therewith and being prof vided with an insulated food storage compartment having an access opening, a door having apart thereof adapted to engage the outer wall structure of said cabinet about said access opening for closing the opening, said refrigerating system comprising a cooling element mounted within and adapted tomaintain said food storage compartment betwen predetermined temperature limits, said refrigerating system also comprising a refrigerant circulating unit operatively connected to said cooling element and located exteriorly of said food compartment, metallic means insulated from the outer wall structure of said cabinet and extending across said food compartment access opening to form the walls thereof, heat dissipating means disposed in heat exchange relationship with said food compartment access opening wallforming means, said heat dissipating means being adapted to impart heat to the walls of said access opening inwardly of said cabinet from the point at which the door engages the outer Wallstructure thereof for maintaining air in the space between said door and walls of the access opening at a relatively higher temperature than air within the food storage compartment proper, and said heat dissipating means extending substantially entirely around the food compartment access opening and being normally ineffective and rendered effective automatically by operation of said refrigerant circulating unit.

- EDWARD B. NEWILL.

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