US3137146A - Refrigeration apparatus - Google Patents

Description

R. E. WALLENBROCK REFRIGERATION APPARATUS June 16, 1964 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27 June 16, 1964 R WALLENBRQCK 3,137,146

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,137,146 REFRIGERATION APRARATUS Ralph E. Wallenbrock, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1961, Ser. No. 127,343 Claims. (Cl. 62-419) This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and particularly to refrigeration apparatus such as chest type freezers. v

In the conventional chest freezers, the means for refrigerating the main storage chamber thereof comprises an evaporator means installed in the insulative wall defining the chamber for withdrawing heat from the chamber through the liner defining the inner element of the wall. Such an arrangement has a substantial number of disadvantages such as relatively high cost and the tendency of frost collection on the relatively cold liner surfaces. Recently, frost-free refrigeration apparatuses have been developed wherein means are provided in association with the wall mounted evaporator means for causing the frost to migrate from the chamber and liner surfaces to a remote position for subsequent removal as desired. In one such apparatus, the desired migration of the frost is effected by providing an extremely low temperature surface at a point spaced from the chamber and means for circulating air between the chamber and the low temperature surface whereby moisture carried by the air deposits on the low temperature surface in the form of frost, effectively precluding formation of the frost in the chamber.

While the latter apparatus has the desirable feature of providing a substantially frost-free refrigeration chamber,

such as in a chest type freezer, it has the disadvantage of further increasing the relatively high cost of such a freezer wherein the evaporator is installed in the chamber walls.

The present invention comprehends a new and improved refrigeration apparatus which provides desirable frost-free functioning as in the last describedrefrigeration apparatus but in an extremely simple and economical manner.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved refrigeration apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is'the provision of such refrigeration apparatus arranged to provide subfreezing refrigeration of a chamber without the need of evaporator structure installed in the walls defining the chamber. i

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigeration apparatus provided with means for effecting a sub-freezing refrigeration of a freezer chamber solely by circulation of sub-freezing temperature air therethrough.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such refrigeration apparatus having new and improved means for effecting uniformly distributed delivery of the sub-freezing air to the freezer chamber.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such refrigeration apparatus including means defining a chamber, means for providing refrigerated air under pressure for refrigerating the chamber to a sub-freezing temperature, and means for delivering refrigerated air from the providing means through a plurality of inlets to the chamber at substantially spaced points therein to refrigerate the chamber substantially uniformly throughout to said sub-freezing temperature.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of a chest freezer provided with refrigeration apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse fragmentary vertical section thereof taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is afragmentary longitudinal vertical section thereof taken substantially along the line" 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuitry thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the'invention as disclosed in the drawings, a chest type freezer generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a cabinet 11 having a right upper side wall 12, a right lower side wall 13, a left side wall 14, a rear end wall 15, a front end wall 17, an upper bottom wall 18, and a lower bottom wall 19. The side end and bottom walls cooperatively define an upwardly opening space generally designated 20 which is divided into a main storage chamber 21 and a smaller sharp-freeze chamber 22, by a pair of upright dividing walls 23 and 23a housing a conventional evaporator 24. The open top of the cabinet may be selectively closed by a conventional lid 25. As shown in FIGURE 1, each of the walls 12-19 is defined by an inner liner 26, an outer member 27, and a body of suitable insulating material 28 between the liner and outer member.

As indicatedrbriefly above, the present invention comprehends a freezer structure wherein the refrigeration of the space 20 to the desired sub-freezing temperature is effected without use of the conventional evaporator structures formerly provided in the outer cabinet walls. Herein the refrigeration of the space 20 is effected solely by the forced circulation of air through the chambers 21 and 22, which air is refrigerated to a sub-freezing temperature in passing in thermal association with the evapo rator 24 in the dividing wall 23. More specifically, wall 23 defines a first inlet 29 from chamber 21 to the interior thereof, and a second inlet 30 from chamber 22 to the interior thereof. A outlet 31 is provided in the dividing wall 23a adjacent the bottom thereof in communication with a fan chamber 32 defined by an enclosure 33 and housing a fan 34 driven by a suitable electric motor 34a.

A plate 35 extending across the fan chamber 32 and '22, and in a second path downwardly to an outlet opening 38 at the bottom of chamber 21.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 1-3, the refrigerated air delivered from fan 34 through opening 38 is delivered to chamber 21 by an improved distribution structure generally designated 39 which effects a substantially uniform distribution of the refrigerated air throughout chamber 21 thereby effectively refrigerating the chamber uniformly to the preselected sub-freezing temperature. As shown in FIGURE 3, the distribution structure 39 includes a first, tubular duct 40 extending centrally longitudinally along the bottom wall 19 substantially between walls 13 and 14, a second, upwardly open duct 41 extending longitudinally along bottom wall 19 adjacent front Wall 17, and a third, upwardly open duct 42 extending longitudinally along bottom wall 19 adjacent rear wall 15. Approximately midway between . walls 13 and 14, a first, upwardly open interconnecting duct 43 connects duct 40 to duct 41, and a second, upwardly open interconnecting duct 44 connects duct 40 to duct 42. The left-hand end of each of ducts 40, 41 and 42 opens into a space 45 adjacent the-left side wall 14 at the bottom of a wire frame structure 46 secured to the wall 14- and defining a vertically extending air passage 47 for assuring a conduction of a portion of the air delivered from fan 34 to an upper portion of chamber 21 subjacent lid 25 notwithstanding a loaded condition within chamber 21. The refrigerated air is delivered from duct 40 to ducts 43 and 44 through a pair of outlets 48. Thus, low temperature air is delivered through the open ducts 41-44 to the chamber 21 adjacent the bottom wall 19 at a plurality of points assuring a uniform distribution of the refrigerated air throughout the chamber 21.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 2, duct 40 is shown to comprise a depressed portion 50'of the liner 26a of bottom wall 19, and a flat plate 51 provided with a pair of downturned edge flanges 52 each having an outlet opening 48 for communication between the duct 40 and the respective interconnecting ducts 43 and 44. As illustrated, the ducts 41, 42, 43 and 44 comprise upwardly opening channels in the liner 26 depressed below the fiat plane of the liner with which the plate 51 is in coplanar association. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2, the refrigerated air passing to ducts 41-44 front duct 46 may move upwardly through chamber 21 from any por-' tion thereof as long as no restriction is placed on such flow as by the placement of objects (not shown) on the bottom wall 19. Thus, in effect, the ducts 41, 42, 43 and 44 comprise outlets cooperating with openings 48 to deliver the refrigerated air from the duct 40 upwardly adjacent the walls defining the lateral boundaries of the space 21 and eifectively surrounding goods placed in the chamber 21 with an enclosure of refrigerated air. Further, the plate 51 may be formed of a thermally conductive material such as metal whereby the refrigerated air passing through the duct 40 causes the plate 51 to act 'as a cold plate at the bottom of the chamber 21.

As illustrated in .FIGURE 3, the left-hand end 75 of ducts 41 and 42 communicates with duct 4tlthrough space 45. Likewise, the right-hand end 76 of ducts 41 and 42 communicates with duct 40 in the vicinity of the lower right side wall 13. Thus, in addition to cold air flowing from duct 40 into ducts 41 and 42 via openings 48, cold air also enters these ducts 41 and 42 from duct 40 through both the rightahand ends 76 and the left-hand ends 75. The tendency of the air entering the ducts 41 and 42 is to permeateupwardly through the food packages on its way to opening 29. Thus by having air enter ducts 41 and 42 at three spaced points, namely 75, 48 and 76, it is assured that a sufficient quantity of air is available at all points along the lengths of ducts 41 and 42, and consequently, a uniform distribution of cold air throughout the chamber 21 is provided.

It should be noted that at no time is the passage of air from fan 34 completely blocked notwithstanding the relationship with the ducts 41444 as the grid structure 46 effectively maintains the passage 47 open to provide a circulation of the refrigerated air through the upper portion of chamber 21 back through the inlet 29 in wall portion 26b extends generally horizontally from portion 56 to liner portion 37 and defines the lower end of the dividing walls 23 and 23a. The liner portion 57 is prothe lower end of the liner portion 56 to cooperate with the liner portion 57 in defining a passage for conducting air from opening 36 to opening 56a for delivery through duct '55 to the chamber 22. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the liner portion 26b may be provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting angular ribs 65 serving to space goods placed in chamber 22 upwardly of the level of the fiat plane of the liner to effectively preclude blocking of the duct'55 thereby and to also allow air delivered to duct 55 to spread outwardly toward walls 15 and 17 whereupon it permeates upwardly through the food packages on its Way to opening 30.

Asshown in FIGURE 1, the refrigerated air delivered to chamber 22 from duct 55 passes upwardly therethrough and is recirculated back to evaporator 24'through the inlet opening 30 in the dividing'wall 23. Thus, the recirculated air from each of chambers 21 and 22 is mixed within the dividing wall 23 at evaporator 24 and recircu- 'lated by means of fan 34 to the respective chambers as discussed above.

The operation of freezer 10 is best seen by reference to FIGURES. Motor compressor 63 is connected from a placement of goods in substantially complete overlying a freezer while yet eliminating the relatively vided with a melt-collecting depressed portion 58 having an opening 59 through which melt resulting from a defrosting of evaporator 24 may pass to a conduit 60 extending through lower right side wall 13 to a machinery space 61 below bottom wall 18 for collection in a pan 62. The motor compressor 63 of the refrigeration apparatus is disposed in space 61 directly below pan 62 and the heat thereof is directed upwardly against the pan to evaporate the collected melt, thereby dissipating it to atmosphere and eliminating the need for drain connections from the freezer. As best seen in FIGURE 1, a connecting plate 64 extends between liner portion-37 and thermostat switch 66 to a fixed contact 67 of a timer switch 68. The thermostat switch 66 is connected to one power supply lead L1 and the movable contact 69 of the timer switch 68 is connected to the other power supply lead L2 so that when the movable contact 69 engages the fixed contact 67 and the thermostat switch 66 is closed the motor compressor 63 is connected between the power supply leads L1 and L2. The motor 70 of timer switch 68 is connected in parallel with motor compressor 63 from thermostat switch 66 to lead L2 and thus clocks the accumulated-compressor running time in controlling the operation of movable switch contact 69. Fan motor 35 is connected between lead L1 and fixed contact 67 of timer switch 68 and movable contact 69 is normally in .engagement with fixed contact 67 so that fan motor 35 is normally energized providing the desirable forced circulation of the refrigerated air discussed above. However, when timer motor 70 clocks suflicient compressor running time, the movable con-tact 69 is switched from fixed contact 67 to a second fixed contact 71 of timer switch 68 to which is connected a defrost heater 72 in series with a bimetallic control switch 73 for defrosting the evaporator 24 in the conventional manner. As the movable contact 69 is no longer in engagement with contact 67, the compressor 63 and the fan 35 are inoperative during the defrosting operation. I

Thus, applicants refrigeration apparatus as disclosed above provides a highly desirable frost-free operation of V V costly evaporator structures in the cabinet walls. By virtue of the improved uniform distribution of the refrigerated air in the chambers, improved freezing and storage of goods in the chambers is obtained.

, While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

air under pressure fol-refrigerating said chamber to a subfreezing temperature; means for delivering refrigerated air from the providing means through a plurality of upwardly opening inlets to the chamber adjacent to each of said walls at the bottom of said chamber to define a blanket of cold air surrounding the chamber inwardly of said Walls and thereby refrigerate the chamber substantially uniformly throughout to said sub-freezing temperature; and means precluding delivery of refrigerated air into said chamber from the bottom of the central portion of the chamber.

. 2. Refrigeration apparatus, comprising: Wall means defining a chamber and having left and right side walls and front and rear end walls; means for providing refrigerated air under pressure for refrigerating said chamber to a sub-freezing temperature; a first duct extending substantially between said sidewalls at the bottom of said chamber and arranged to receive refrigerated air from said providing means; a second upwardly opening duct extending horizontally along an end wall at the bottom of the chamber; and means for providing air from said first duct to said second duct to pass into the chamber at substan- I tially spaced points therein to refrigerate the chamber substantially uniformly throughout to said sub-freezing temperature.

3. Refrigeration apparatus comprising: wall means defining a chamber having left and right side walls and front and rear end walls; means for providing refrigerated air 1 under pressure'for refrigerating said chamber to a subfreezing temperature; a first duct extending substantially chamber at substantially spaced points thereof adjacent under pressure for refrigerating said chamber to a sub-' freezing temperature; a first duct extending substantially between said side walls at the bottom of said chamber and arranged to receive refrigerated air from said providing means; a second, upwardly opening duct extending horizontally along an end wall at the bottom of the chamber;

between said side walls at the bottom of said chamber and arranged to receive refrigerated air from said providing means; a second upwardly opening duct extending horizontally along an end wall at the bottom of the chamber; a third upwardly opening duct extending horizontally along the other end wall, at the bottom of the chamber; and means for providing refrigerated air from said first duct to said second and third ducts to pass into the chamtween said side walls at the bottom of said chamber and arranged to receive refrigerated air from said delivering means; means for delivering refrigerated air from said duct through a plurality of upwardly opening inlets to the means for providing air from said first duct-to said second duct intermediate the ends thereof; and means for delivering refrigerated air from one end of the ducts adjacent one of said side walls to the chamber to refrigerate the chamber substantially uniformly throughout to said sub-freezing temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,688 Bromann June 6, 1933 1,973,022 I Strobell Sept. 11, 1934 2,074,375 Dick Mar. 13, 1937 2,203,814 Clements June 11, 1940 2,290,647 Lowell July 21, 1942 2,337,089 Ellsworth Dec. 21,1943 2,463,104 Hender Mar. 1, 1949 2,508,768 Munshower May 23, 1950 2,545,602 Burger Mar. 20, 1951 2,553,471 Protzeller May 15, 1951 2,693,089 Teeter Nov. 2, 1954 2,929,227 Rainwater Mar. 22, 1960 3,056,274 Pouchert Oct. 2, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 137, 146 June 16, 1964 Ralph E. Wallenbrock fied that error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certi and that the said Letters Patentshould read as ent requiring correction corrected'belom- Column 2, line 15, after- "side" insert a comma; column 3, line 16, for "front" read from si ned and sealed this 5th day of January 1965.

(SEAID Atte'stz EDWARD J. BRENNEE Commissioner of Patent EkN'EsT wi SWIDER Arte/sting Officer

Claims (1)

1. REFRIGERATION APPARATUS COMPRISING: WALL MEANS DEFINING A CHAMBER HAVING LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE WALLS AND FRONT AND REAR END WALLS; MEANS FOR PROVIDING REFRIGERATED AIR UNDER PRESSURE FOR REFRIGERATING SAID CHAMBER TO A SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURE; MEANS FOR DELIVERING REFRIGERATED AIR FROM THE PROVIDING MEANS THROUGH A PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY OPENING INLETS TO THE CHAMBER ADJACENT TO EACH OF SAID WALLS AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHAMBER TO DEFINE A BLANKET OF COLD AIR SURROUNDING THE CHAMBER INWARDLY OF SAID WALLS AND THEREBY REFRIGERATE THE CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY THROUGHOUT TO SAID SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURE; AND MEANS PRECLUDING DELIVERY OF REFRIGERATED AIR INTO SAID CHAMBER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CHAMBER.

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