US1718530A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1929. F. L. coOK REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 16, `1926 June 25, 1929. F; L. cooK REFRIGERATING APIARATUS Filed July 16, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Swank ad ,5M

New

June 25, 1929.

F. L. COOK REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jun 25, 1929. F L, COOK l1,718,530

REFRIGERATING APPARATUl F'iled July 16, 192G- 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 25,1 1929. F; 1 COO-K 1,718,530

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS /53 JM X604 @5% @iff/1' tto: nur? Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L.- COOK, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO S. D.

' CAMPER, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application ed July 16, 1926. 'Serial No. 122,935.

The invention relates to icfrigerating apator, and provided with means for circulatparatus and relates more particularly to ing a liquid refrigerant through the said household refrigerating systems Where, a boiling coil to cool the food chambers and liquidor gaseous refrigerant of low boiling@ freeze ice cubes in the manner described.

temperature is employed and circulated un-' der pressure through suitable coils in a refrigerator chamber, the expansion and evaporation of the liquid in the coils When released from the high pressure zone, serving to take up or absorb heatA to thereby chill the refrigerator chamber and freeze ice cubes and the like. The liquids or` gases commonly used as refrigerants are ammonia, carbon dioxide, ethyl chloride, freezol, methyl chloride, propane and sulphur dioxide.

In refrigerating systems of the character described the household refrigeratoris pro- .vided With a suitable brine tank having a boiling coil therein through which. coil .the

refrigerant is circulated through an expansion valve by means of a compressor driven byl a suitable motor. The spent refrigerant in thevform of gas saturated with heat is conducted back to the compressor where it is compressed and thence conducted to a i condenser Where the compressed refrigerant is cooled and transposed from gaseous to liquid fori. From a suitable receptacle connecting WithV the condenser the cooled and liquid refrigerant is again conducted under pressure through the boiling coils of the refrigerator brine tank. The process is continuous and the same refrigerant Vmay be utilized over and over in the manner described for chilling land freezing purposes for an unlimited period `of time.

There 'are now on the market andin general use a considerable number of various' refrigerating'systems of the vgeneral character outlined above, certain of which have proved satisfactoryV in erforniing theobjects stated.. While satisfactory tothe extent that the refrigerating chambers are chilled for the .preservation of food products, and ice cubes are 'forme`d, these systems performno otherfiseful service.

A principal object' of the present invention 'is to provide an improved self-contained iiefrigerating unit which isdesigned to be conveniently utilized in connection with the -boi1ing coil of the usual household. refriger- A further object is to provide a refrigerating unit having included as an element thereof novel and efficient means for freezing any liquid, such as ice cream, custard, Sherbert,

ices and the like, to any desired degree of hardness Within a reasonably short time, and utilizingr for this purpose the same liquid refrigerant which is also utilized for cooling the household refrigerator.

A further object of the invention is to provide as an. element of the self-contained unit, means for establishing a relatively lower pressure zone in the freezer unit than that lwhich obtains in the household refrigerator,

thereby rendering it possible to economically freeze liquid foods when desired and which foods cannot be frozen by the. household brine tank due to the construction and nature of the usual refrigerator of this type.

A further object of. the invention is -to provide as an element of the self-contained refrigerating unit, means for controllingas desired the circulating systemrof the refrigerant, said means being operative to conduct said refrigerant either through the boiling A coil of the household refrigerator or through the freezing coil of the freezing unit, according to whether or, notit is desired `to use the liquid freezing unit ofthe apparatus. -4

further object of the invention "1s to provide' an improved compressor element constituting anindependent element of the self-contained unit and which compressor is of. novel and improved construction to more eiciently and economically carry out its purpose in the refrigerating system, and 1n which the usual connecting rods and-wrist pins have been eliminated.

A V:further object of the invention is to provide as an element 'of the unitary construction, agitating means which cooperate with the liquid refrigerant in freezing the liquid commodity in the freezer unit, to-

ether W` h 'driving means for said agitatingv vmec anism'and means for establishing and discontinuing a driving engagement between theicompressor driving means and the driving means for said agitator mecha'- nism.

A further object of the invention is to .provide'a new and improved arrangement operated to maintain the high and low pressurezones of the refrigerant system at the proper presures to facilitate'the continuous and desired circulation of the refrigerant through the apparatus.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a common land single source of ower for driving the compressor of the re rigerating apparatus at the desired speed to produce the required pressure in the system, which source of ower is utilized by speed reducing means or operating the agit-ating device of the freezer unit at a considerably slower speed necessary for the required agitation of the liquid in the freezer unit.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages whlch may be incident to the userof the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with theunderstanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same maybe varied in yproportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limitingthe improvements in their useful ap-v plications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved refrigerating unit designed to be communicably secured to the usual boiling-coils of a household refrigerator. The, latter, together with the refrigerator, are shown ymore or less diagrammatic in character'.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the compressor element of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 vis a transverse vertical section on.

. line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

5 is a transverse section on lineg. 3. f Fig. 6 is a plan view of the upper compressor cylinder head valve housing.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the same `on line` 7 7 of`Fig. 6. f y

v Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional vview ofthe misgaan .'twoway valve which is secured -to k,ther'lbase casting. Fig. 9 is an enlarged central vertical section through the expansion valve secured to the base casting.

Fig: 10 is a central vertical sectionalview through the freezer lunit secured to the base the vaous elements thereof. 4

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sec-` tional` View taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of ne of the cylinder head valves of the compressor.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of one of the piston head valves of the compressor.

Referring to the drawings, the base of .the refrigerating unit is indicated at 1, and

is preferably formed of cast metal having suitably disposed bosses or projections to The 'power unit com ,castingn showing the manner of assembling `which the various elements of the apparaa5 as by bolts 10 to the base casting, a crank' casing 11, having a bearing portion 12 for the inner end of the shaft 8, and an outer removable bearing portion 13 for said shaft. The .compressor further comprises a pluralityf-of vertically disposed cylinder castings 111-14 formed integrally with, or other- Wise secured to the crank case 11, and the cylinders arelongitudinally bored forfthe reception of vertically'reciprocable piston f members 15--15. The latter are alternately reciprocated vertically lby means of oppositely disposed eccentrics 16-16, preferably integrally` formed on the horizontal shaft 8 of thefcompressor. The shaft S'may be composed of a drop forging'which is suitably hardened by well known methods. The upper ends ofthe cylinder castings 14-14 are, or .may be, of reduced external The compressor. element further comprises top members or castings' 18-18 internally ldiameter and are provided at their upper ends with compression chambers `17-17.

bored to provide fluid chambers 19-`19 communi'cating at their upper ends vas by ports or channels 20-20 with a common horizontal'ductor passage 21 in a manifold member 21a removably secured to the members ducted from the compressor 3 to a suitable 18 as by bolts 21b passing through ears 21e.

condenser in a manner to be described.

A cylinder head valve plate 23 is interposed between each head casting 18 and the -en` larged head 24 of each cylinder. Each valve 'plate is centrally apertured as at 25, to form a port communicating with the interior bore of the cylinder and with the interior of one of the pistons -15. A cylinder head valve 26 havingdperipheral serrations 26a normally rests on each valve plate 23 to close the valve ports 25, and. is pressed normally thereagainst by means of a coiled spring 27 housed within each fluid chamber 19 and bearing at its upper end against a shouldered portion of' said chamber. A cylindrical bushing or packing member 28 of fiber, or other suitable material, is interposed in each fluid chamber 19, between the compression springs 27, and the walls of said chambers, and the object of which bushings, is to muflle or deaden any appreciable noise or clatter incident to the opening or closing of the disk valves 26.

The piston members 15-15 are ident-ical in construction and each piston is provided at its lower endwith a plurality of radially disposed, vertically extending ports or channels 29, formed in the enlarged lower end 30 of the piston member. such ports 29 are provided, which afl'ord communication between the interior of the cylinder 14 and the crank case chamber 31 of the compressor. A coil spring 32 is housed within each cylinder 14 and bears at its lower end against the enlarged lower portion 30 of each piston 15, said spring bearing against a suitable annular sho-uldered seat 33 on the interior of the upper portion of the cylinder bore. The springs 32 act in conjunction with gravity in maintaining the pistons 15-15 in engagement with the eccentrics 16-16 during the operation of the compressor, and particularly when the pistons are descending.

Each piston 15 is provided at its upper end with a central longitudinal bore34, terminating at its upper end in an enlarged annular valve seat 35, and communicating at its lower end with one or more transverse radially extending ports 36, which in turn communicate with the'interior of the .cylinder. 14. The top of each piston member 15 has securedth'ereto by screws or other fastening means, a piston valve plate37 centrally apertured as at 38 and affording means of communication at the desired interval between the lcompression chamber 17 and the central port- 34 of the piston. A piston walve, 39 having a. serrated periphery- 39BL normally rests on the valveseat 35 in eachpiston member and is yieldablyf pressed thereagainst by a -tension or leaf spring 4Qr rhoused*between the valve and the apertured piston valve plate 37. It will be apparent from the construction and arrangement de- As illustrated, four.

scribed, that when the piston 15 moves downwardly the pressure beneath the valve 39 lifts the latter from its seat to permit gases or vapors to pass through the serrations 39a and thence through the central port 38 of the piston valve plate into the compression chamber 17 On this downward movement suction is prevented at the upper end of the compression chamber byA the spring 27 forcing cylinder head valve 26 against cylinder head valve plate 23, and the vacuum thus created aids in permitting the incoming gases to pass' through the piston valve 39 into the compression chamber 17. On the up stroke of the piston the gases are compressed in the compression uchamber, the piston head valve 39 is pressed firmly closed against its seat, and the compressed gases force cylinder head valve 26 upwardly against the pressure of the coiled spring 27,

to permit the compressed gases to escape from the compression chamberthrough ports 25 in cylinder head valve plate 23, and past the serrated periphery 26a of the open cylinder head valve 26, through the ports or ducts 20, 21, and 22, to be cohducted from the compressor. The gases admitted to compression chambers 17 are supplied from the fluid tight crank case chamber 31 ott the compressor, through radial ports 29 of the pis- 7 is keyed to the shaft8 and has welded or otherwise secured thereto an annular collar 43 of bronze, the latter'having an internal shoulder- 44 engagingian adjacent shouldered portion 45 of the shaft 8 to limit the inward movement of the collar 43 and pulley with respect Yto said shaft. The inner face of the ,collar member 43 has soldered orl otherwise secured thereto one end of a cylindrical sylplion bellows member 46, formed ofcopper and provided with exterior flutes orvcorrugations to permit longitudinal expansion and contraction of the bellowsmember during rotation of thev drive shaft 8.' lThe inner end of the bellows member is soldered or otherwise secured to an' annular ring member 47 'of hardenedfsteel'having a central aperture providing a clearance' for the shaft 8, and

Sealing means the 'inner face of said ringvmember bears V againstand rotates relative to an outel" bearmg surface 48 of Babbitt .metal provided on the exterior face ofthe-hub or bearing por. y

tion 13 of the compressor casing. A coiled member 43 and bears at itsother end against the steel ring member 47 to maintain the latter in close en agement with the bearing surface 48 of Bab itt metal, thereby preventing the escape of gases between said elements 47 and 48. The bellows 46 prevents the es.

cape of gases which may pass through the central aperture in the steel ring member 47, and the bronze collar 43 is tightly shrunk on the shaft 8 to effect-ually guard against t-he escape of gases at this point.

The manifold 21a on top of the compressor is provided with a central enlargement 50 (Figs. 6 and 7) having an internal valve chamber 51 communicating with the ducts 21-21 of the manifold, and the latter is further` provided with a reduced outer tubular portion 52 centrally apertured for the reception of a longitudinally reciprocable valve stem 53 having a valve head 54. The latter in its innermost or closed position is designed to register with a valve seat 55 formed on the nipple 22a which is threaded or otherwise 4 secured to the manifold 21a and having the central port V22 communicating with the valve chamber 51. In its outermost or open position the valve 54. is designed to register and seal a st-at 58 provided in the valve chamber and communicating with a port 59 which is normally closed during operation of the compressor as by a threaded screw 60 (Fig. 3), but which port may be open when desired to apply a pressure gauge to ascertain the pressure on the high pressure 'side of the compressor. A suitable stufling boX or gland 61, having a packing 62, is provided on the outer end of the tubular portion 52 of the manifold to prevent the escape of fluid around the stem 53 of the reciprocating valve 54.

Al pipe connection 63 is threaded or otherr wisettightly secured as by a jam nut 64 to the nipple 22a, Fig. 1, and the otherend 'of said pipe connection communicates as at 65 with the upper chamber 66 of a condenser indicated Agenerally at 67. Thelatter is of any desired or approved type and includes the usual cooling tubes 68 having a large surface exposure to the atmosphere. The lower portion of the condenser tubes com7 municate with a tank or `receptacle 69 designed to contain the liquid refrigerant, which in he present inst-ance is methyl chloride. Any other appropriate refrigerant of lowy boiling temperature may be employed if desired. The refrigerant receptacle which vto supports the condenser element 67, is lremovably secured asby bolts 70 to the base cast' ing 1 and is preferablyprovided with a sight gauge 71 -through which the level of the liquid refrigerant inthe tank may be visibly ascertained. The sight gauge71 comprises a ring element secured as by screws 72 to the or secured to the base casting 1 of the refrigerating unitn ReferringA more particularly to Fig. 8 the two-way valve 76 comprises a substantially 4tubular casing 78 tightly secured asby. bolts 79 to a base plate 80 which in turn is secured as described to the base casting. A cover portion 81 is tightly secured aslby-bolts 82 to the body, portion 78 and said cover portion is centrally apertured at 83 for the reception of the upper portion 84 of the valve stem. The latter is provided with an annular portion 85 having soldered or otherwise secured, thereto the lower portion of a copper sylphon bellows 86 and the upper portion of said bellows is soldered to the body portion 7 8 or rigidly clamped as at 87 between said body portion and the cover member 81 of the valve housing. The valve housing 78 is ,further provided with up er and lower spaced partition members 8 and 89, the

lformer being centrally apertured at 90 to tically to alternatelyopen and close the y valve ports 90 and 92, by means of a hand operated cam lever 95 pivoted at 96 within a recessed portion 97 of the valve stem and having a cam or eccentric portion 98 designed to cooperate with an apertured plate member 99 yieldably pressed upwardly y means of a cushion spring 100 bearing at its upper end against said plate and housed at its lower end within a central recess 101 preferably formed integrally with the cover portion 81 of the valve housing. WVhen the lever 95 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 8 the upper valve 91 is forced against its seat 90 by means of a coiled spring 102 of somewhat less strength than the spring 100 bearing at its upper end against the cover portion 81 and bearing at its lower endagainst the annular portion 85 of the valve stem, said spring being housed within the sylphon bellows 86. In the position described the lower valve 93 is llO open and the liquid refrigerant is admitted l from pipe 74 through port 103 to intermedisite position, as illustrated in dotted lines,

the engagement of cam face-98 with plate 99 compresses cushion spring 100 to permit valve stem 84 to rise a slight distance. This movement opens valve 91 and closes valve 93. Liquid refrigerant admitted at 103 cannot now pass into lower chamber 105 'but enters upper chamber 110 from which said refrigerant is conducted through port 11 into pipe connection A112 having a threaded engagement with the walls of said port. From the pipe connection 112 the liquid refrigerant is conducted to an eX- pansion valve indicated generally at 113 (Fig. 1), the said refrigerant entering the expansion valve through the screw connection 114. The expansion valve casing 113,

is provided with a projecting ear portion 115 by means of which the .valve casing is removably secured to the base casting as by bolts 116. The structure and purpose of the expansion valve 113 will be hereinafter described in detail.

` Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 8 arid assuming that lever 95 of two-way valve 78 is again in the position indicated in full lines, the refrigerant is preventedv by closed valve 91 from entering pipe connection 112 through port 111. `The refrigerant enters lower valve chamber 105.through open valve 93 and passes through ports 106 into lower pipe connection 107. The other end of said pipe connection*communicates as at 117 with one end of a boiling coil'118 disvposed in the brine chamber 119 of the usual household refrigerator indicated generallyat 120'; (Fig. 2). The boiling coil and chamber 118 and 119 are of standard construction and are A,commonly employed in household refrigerators wherea liquid refrigerant of low/ boiling temperature is utilized to freeze ice cubes and chill food compartments for' the preservation of perishable food products. An expansion valve 120"L of usual or preferred construction is provided at or near the intake end of the boil ing coil 118 and the purpose of which is to permit and insure expansion of thweJ liquefied refrigerant at the desired pressure determined by the setting of the expansion valve, to cause the refrigerant to traverse the boiling coil 118 in the lform of heat absorbing vapor which chills the refrigerator and freezes ice cubes in the usual manner. The expansion valve 120 is similar in character to the expansion valve 113, which will be hereinafter described in detail with the exception that the expansion valve 120n is set for a relatively high pressure sufficient to permit the refrigerant to form ice cubes. The' expansion valve 113 is set to permit the refrigerant to expand and vaporize at a considerably lower pressure to obtain a high degree of chilling or freezing action in a manner `and for the purpose to be hereinafter described in detail. The otherend of the refrigerator boiling coil 118 is communicablyv secured as at 121 with the upper end of a pipe connection 122 which in turn communicates with a fluid tight connection as at 123 with a Tunion 124. A pipe connection 125 is secured to one end of the T-union 124 and conducts the spent or vaporized refrigerant from the refrigerator boiling coil to the crank Acase chamber 31 of the compressor 3. The pipe 125 is secured as by a flanged coupling 126 to a nipple 127 which is in turn secured to or forming a part of a manifold or valve housing 128 secured as by bolts 129 to one side of the crank'casing 11 of the compressor.

A reciprocating valve similar to the valve 54 at the top of the compressor, and having a valve stem 130, is mounted in the valve housing 128, and is adapted when in its innermost position to register with a suitable seat to prevent the admission of spent or4 vaporized refrigerant to the crank ease of the compressor,'said valve, when in its outermost position, being designed to open, and permit the vaporized refrigerant to enter the crank case chamber 31 of the compres-A sor to be compressed in a manner hereinbefore described. A stuffing box 131 of usual construction is provided on the outer end of the valve housing' 128 to prevent the escape of vapor around the reciprocating valve stein 130. The latter and its valve is designed to be manually controlled during the operation of thev refrigerating apparat-us.

Broadly stated, in conjunction with the elements heretofore described land including the household refrigerator 120 and boiling coil v1R18, I pro ose to utilize a cooperativeV supplemental reezing unit secured to the.

Abase casting and utilizing under different pressure conditions the refrigerant employed `in-the boiling coil 118 of said household refrigerant apparatus indicated generally at 120. This cooperative supplemental freezing unit will now be described,

Referring to Figs. 1 and 10, a freezer base casting 132 having legs or supports 133 is secured by suitable bolts to the base 'casting 1 of the refrigerating unit.' The casting 132 is provided with an upstanding peripheral wall 134 and a central hub portion 1 35 forming a depressed annular chamber or seat 136; -'Thehub portion is further provided with a. central threaded aperture 137vin which a'central vertical hollow sleeve member 138, preferably of brass or copper, '5 is designed to be threaded. A vertical shaft -139 having a squared upper end 140 is rotatably. mounted within the sleeve' member 138 andupper and lower packing members or bushings 141 are interposed between the shaft and the casiig to for'm noiseless bearing portions for the shaft 139. The lower end of the freezer Shaft is journaled in a central boss or bearing member 142, preferably integrally formed with the base casting 1 (Fig. 2). A worm :wheel 143 is keyed to the shaft 139 androtatably bears on the top surface of the bearing member 142. A llongitudinally extending horizontal drive shaft 144 is journaled ateither end in suitablebearings 145, 146, which in turn are secured to or formed integrally with the base casting 1. Spaced collar members 147-147 are. secured or keyed to the shaft 144, one on each side of the bearing 146 to preventendwise or longitudinal movement of the drive shaft 144. The latter has keyed thereon between the bearings 145 and 146, a worm member 148, having a drivingv engagement with worm wheel 143 on verticall disposed thereto a clutch member or collar 150, and

the gear 149 and Iclutch collar 150 are splined to shaft 144l by a. longitudinal spline 151 carried b the shaft and registering with suitableV ined keyways inthe gearand collar members. The gear and clutch collar are designed-to be manually reciprocated rela'- tive to the drive Shaft 144 by means of a clutch leverv 152, having a handle portion 153 and llongitudinally reciprocable withina bearing Amember 154 secured as at 155 to the bearing member 145 on rthe base casting. From the described construction it will be apparent that gear or pinion 149 ,maybe manually moved as desired into and out of driving engagement 'with av gear 'orpinion 156 suitably keyed on the drive shaft' 8 of thecompressor 3 and maintained in osition thereon by means of a jam 4nut 157 t readed onto the end of said shaft.' It will be observed that the reduction pulleys 5 and 7 respectively mounted on the armature and compressor shaftsl result ina reduced speed of the compressor desirable forits opera-4 tion inl compressingthe spent refrigerant, while the 'worm land vworm wheel engag 'ment with freezerV shaft 139 results in lip-- l0fpre :iably further reduced `'speed of theplat- 'eezer unit on the-base casting.

double walls 159 of preferably circular formafreezer,shaft`.139. .The drive s aft 144l isy tion, and is designed to be 'seated in the depressed portion 136 of the freezer base casting 132, the double walledbottom portion -160 of said freezer tank being centrally av ertured at 161 to snugly fit around'the ub 70 portion 135 of the freezer base casting. The double walls of the/side and-bottom ofthe freezer tank provide a dead air space 162 which prevents frosting on the outside of the tank, or said space may beilled with any 75 p suitable heat insulating material to promote the effective operation of the device.

, A can or container 163 is'prov'ided having a centrally disposed tubular portion` 164 which is designed to snugly litv over and surround the sleeve member 138 carried by the freezer base cast-ing with the result that the container 163 is firmly centered against rotation'within the-freezer tank 158.' l The container 163v is further prevented from rotating relative to the freezer tank by means of one or more radially extending ylugs or projections 165 on the' bottom of the cont-ainer-andv which register. with'and engage l correspondingly located recesses ord'e res- `90 sions 166 formed thelbottom wall o the freezer tank.i The containerv '163 isv further provided with handles 167 on its body portion'and a coverportion 168 having a lower flange 169, adapted to be inserted within the side wallsl of the container, and aperipheral bead 170 rests upon -the periphery ,of the container walls to rlimit downward movement` of the cover.I Handles 171 are provided on the cover tt) facilitate opening and closing of the container.

The upper squared portion of the freezer shaft 139 is designed-to be centered with a 1 arms 175. The latter are provided i. with 110 vsuitable staggered lugs or projections 176 the .purpose of which is to agitate and circulate the contents of the container 163 as the same are being frozen and in the usual manner.Y 'The agitator member further com- 115 prises a lower transverse member or bar '177 secured to or formed integrally 'with thelv lower portions of the arms and recessed at its outer ends to receive the lower trunnions 178 of external agitator blades or 120 stirrers 179. -The-bar 177.v is further provided with a lcentral .aperture177aforming a' lower bearing portion, for said rotatable agitator member uponthe tubular portion l"164 offthe stationalycontainer 163. The 125 4blades 1379 `at their upper ends are provided flwithrunnion's 180 engaging suitably aperturedv. rejections 181 on the agitator member. e stirrers 17 9 are permitted to oscil late upon their trunnions and 4suitable'up- .$301

per and lower projections 182--183 are pro-4 vided on the agitator member to limit the oscillatory movement of the stirring members. The location ofthe stops 182, ,183 is such that the stirring blades 179 are maintained in an oblique position relative to the transverse axis of the agitator member to facilitate scraping the interior wall of the container and to insure proper agitation and circulation of the contents to be frozen. It will be noted that the construction is such that ample clearance is provided within the cover portion 168 of the container for the unrestricted rotation of the agitator member within` the stationary container when the freezer shaft 139 is driven by worm wheel 143 and worm 148. c

A suitable coil 184-for the refrigerant, preferably constituted of copper tubing, is

rovided and is designed to be inserted with- 1n the freezer tank 158 and adjacent to the circular wall 163 of the container. The purpose of the coil 184 is to conduct the expanding refrigerant as the latter vaporizes and absorbs heat from the contents of the container as the same are being agitated. The upper end of the coil 184 passes through an aperture 185 in the freezer tank and is suitably secured to said tank by means of a union 186. A pipe connection 187 connects with said union and connects at its other end as by( a union 188 to a suitable nipple communicating with an aperture or valve port 189 provided in an extension 190 of the cas-` ing of the expansion valve 113. The lower end of. the refrigerant coil 184 extends through a suitable aperture in the freezer tank and is secured to said tank in a anner similar to the upper portion oflaid coil. with the lower end of the coil 184 and conducts the spent refrigerant to the T-union 124. Thence the refrigerant is conducted through pipe connection 125 to the valve controlled port communicating with the:

compressor crank casechamber 31 in a manner heretofore described.

Referring particularly to Fig. 9, the expansion valve 113 secured to the base casting 1 comprises a body portion 192having a cover portion 193 rigidlyclamped or. s ecured thereto by screws or bolts 194 to 'effect a liuid tight union. The extension 190 of the body portion ofthe valve is. communi-- cably connected as above described with the'pglpe connection 187 in turn communicating with the upper portion of the refrigerant coil 184. lThe expansion valve casing has removably secured thereto as by screws or bolts195'a base plate 196 to forma fluid tight union as by an interposed'g'aslret, and

the base plate embodies a central hubportion 197 centrally apertures as at 198 to slidably house the expansion valve member 199. An. integral depending boss portionY 200 of A pipe connection 191 communicates.

ally dispised lugs or projections 204 integrally formed with the intermediate horizontal wall 205 of the valve casing. A sylphon bellows 206 is soldered or otherwise secured at its lower end to the valve diaphragm 203 and is soldered or otherwise secured at itsupper end at 207 to the valve casing or clamped with a fluid tight connection between said casing and the valve cover 193. The valve diaphragm 208 is normally forced downwardly against the projections 204 by means of a coil spring 208 housed wit-hin a centrally apertured hub por-tion 209 of the valve cover and designed to be adjusted as to tension by means of a screw plug 210 having a threaded engagement with said central aperture. After the tension of the spring 208 has been adjusted, the valve sealed by means of a screw cover 211 having an internal threaded engagement with the central aperture of the boss portion 209. The valve 199 in its normal position as illustrated in Fig. 9 is maintained in its downward position by the plate 203 of the sylphon'to provide a slight clearance at its port or seat 202. The valve is normally urged upwardly by a coil spring 212 engaging the under side of the valve head and housed within the central bore or aperture 198. The spring 212 is of less strength than the spring 208 with the result that the valve 199 is maintained in slightly open position until the pressure on the low pressure side of the valve, or above the. valve port 202 is the passage of liquid or-vaporized refrigerant through the expansion valve 113. this connection it will be understood that the high 4pressure side of. expansion valve 113 is below theJ valve 199 within lower `valve chamber-214 and compressed or liquid refrigerant .enters lower high pressure valve chamber 214 through port 215 communicating with `pipe connection 112 leading from the upper valvet chamber of two-,way valve 78. After passing through open valve port 202 the liquid refrigerant immediately expands and vaporizes within low pressure chamber 213 controlledby dia- I phragm 203, and this expansion is aided materially by the suction exerted from the crank" case chamber 31 of tlre compressor,

"fasi which 1 communicates `with llow pressure chamber 213 of expansion valve 113 through pipe connections 125, 191,- refrigerant coil 184 and pipe connection 187.v The rapid,

5 expansion o the refrigerant commencing 1n low pressure'valve chamber 213 rapidly va' ,porizes `the refrigerant which enters the high pressure valve chamber in .the form 'of liquid, and such expansion isaccompanied by great loss of heat with the result y that the'vaporized refrigerant enters freezer vlcoil 184. at an extreme y low temperature at or below its boiling temperature -11.36 F. Inl this. condition the-refrig-- erant' rapid-ly absorbs large quantities of heat which are present in the liquid d esired to be frozen lin-the container 163.

it will be understood that the refrigerant is of .the compressor, its admission being con-- trolled by the .manually operated reciprocating valve-4 130. The spent refrigerant is compressed by the reciprocating pistons of A the compressor and relieved thereby of a con- 70 After llea/ving ,the refrigerating coils 184 ,valve 78.

' the refrigerant has absorbed a large quantityfof heat and is ready to be compressed in the compressor, relieved of its heat,lcooled and liquefied in the condenser, the refrigerant beingconducted thereto from the coil 125 in a manner heretofore described.

ratus above described, and assuming that the same is -not used to freeze any commodity in the container 1163 .of the basefreezer unit, is as follows: The cooled and liquefied refrigerantconsisting of methyl chloride, is forced by: the compressor 3 or is conducted .out of the lower portion of the'refrigerant. receptacle 69,: through pipe 74 and into in- -termediate chamber 104 of the two-way valve 78. Under this condition the vvalve is in the osition shown in Fi 8 and .the liquid re 'gerant is.,prevente by closed 110., The refrigerant passes through open .valve 93, port 106, into pipe connection 107 passes through expansion valve 120* in the usual household refrigerator boiling coil 118.

in gaseous-1 form absorbs a .suflicient amount ofheat from the various chambers of the refrigerator" 120 to chill the'food products contained therein and form ice cubes. It'v will again be noted Ain this regardltha't the' A[usual yexpansion valve' -1201'1is set for. arelatively high pressure' .with the result that there islrelatively littleexpansionv of-the re `f rigerant irfthey boilingI coil 118',`I- but this expansion is suilicient to perform-the oiiices described, and in afmanner usual in lrnown i methods where aliqu1d' :refrigerant 1s employed; The spent refrigerant, 'afterleav-l mgboiling coil 118 paes through ipe 0011- nection" 122, unon`124,' pi 125, v ve hous- 184 by -meansv of pipe conncctions'191and,l

\ tank adjacent the freezing coil 184. TheA Operation-The operation of the appa-y valve lfrom entering'` upper. valve chamber" The Vrefrigerant iufm:iediately4` expands or v vapori'zes 'and circulates through the boil-l 1" -j ing .coil y118 in the -formiof gas, being aidedv '.filiythisl respect by the suction exerted from Ethe crank case chamber of the compressor '3; 'The refrigerant which is now volatilized and" heretofore described. The fluid .expands tank. The refrigerant which is now'vapbrf4 ingff`128 and into the -cra case chamber 81 When it is desired to utilize the household refrigerant tofreeze ice-cream, custard, o r any desired and' appropriate commodity, in freezer 'unit on the base casting, the container 163 is filled with the fluid commodity -to be frozen and inserted intothe freezer tion of the respective valves controlling the ports. This action cuts oif temporarily furvther admission of the liquid refrigerant through the brine tank boiling coils 118 ofthe household refrigerator 120. Instead the refrigerant passes from -tank 69,l through pipe 74, two-way valve 78 and pipe 112 to the expansion valve 113. The latter as herettofore stated is set at a relatively lower pressure than expansion valve 120Il or ap-f proximately two and one-.half to three pounds per square inch on the low pressure side as distinguished' from ten pounds to thesquare inch on the lowpressure side of' expansion valve The pressure of the liquid refrigerant on the high pressure'side 1'10 of each ex ansion valve regardless of the position o the tw0-way valve 78 varies according to atmospheric conditions, but maybe stated as approximately 'ponds tothe' square. inch under normal conditions.' 11E Owing to the lower-pressure at which valve 113 is set there is a considerably greater expansion or vaporization of the refrigerant in passing through this valve in a manner lm and vaporizes on the low pressureside of the' valve 113'iand isconducted immediately through ort 190, pipe connection 187, to the top o the'freezer coil 184 in thefreezer ized and aided 1n its progress-by suction. from the compressor, rapidly absorbs" heat from the uid in the container 163vwith the result th t the latter' becomes frozen to any desired: egree of hardness. The spent 13ol refrigerant, as before described, is returned to the crank case of the compressor through pipe connections 191, 125, and valve housing 128. It will be understood that at the same time two-way valve 78 is reversed to establish communication with the freezing coil 184,`

clutch lever 152 is shifted to mesh gears 149 and 156. This results in power from the motor 2 being transmit-ted through the compressor shaft 8 to the longitudinal drive shaft 144. This -power is in turn transmitted to freezer shaft 139 through worm 148 and worm wheel, 143. The agitator member 173 is thereby driven ,to eiciently circulate and agit-ate the liquid in the container 153 to cooperate with the vaporized refrigerant in freezing the contents of the container. It will be understood that suitable automatic circuit breakers of Well known character are provided on the motor 2 to automatically shut off the motor and throw the apparatus out of operation in the event that the operation is neglected or unusual. load conditions are encountered. The original liquid refrigerant is placed in the receptacle 69 as through a suitable valve controlled cock,'

and the quantity of the liquid refrigerant incirculation may be readily ascertained by means of the sight gauge 71. It will be further apparent that the expansion valves 120%.' and 113 are automatic in operation, depending upon which valve is placed in circuit, and serve to maintain the proper and desired high and low pressure zones on each side of the valve to insure constant and continued circulation of the refrigerant through the apparatus for the purposes described.

The freezer tank 158 is or may bemprovided4 with 'a solution of liquid, such as glycerine, surrounding the freezer coils and exterior to the liquid container 163.

The provision of the various packings and gaskets, as well as fiber bushings, in various portions of the apparatus, as abovedescribed, serve not only toassist in maintaining a fluid tight system for the refrigerant, but further serve to eliminate noise and vibration in the operation of the apparatus. This is particularly true where these bushings and gaskets are provided in the compressor and freezer tank, withl the result that the unit fis practically noiseless in4 op-v eration which is an added advantage incif.

dent to its use. N y

What I claim is 1. A refrigerating unit adapted to be used l in conjunction with the brine tank and boiling coil of a household refrigerator for the boil-ing ex ansion and` circulation of ,refrigerant or the purpose of freezing and chilling liquids and creams in a freezing receptacle, comprising in combination: a base,

. a compressor mounted on said base, a condenser communicablywonnected with said compressor, 'a refrlgerant receptacle com'- municably connected with said condenser, a two-Way valve mounted on said base and communicably connected with said receptacle and with the boiling coil of said refrigerator, the other end of said refrigerator boiling coil being communicably connected with the low pressure side of said compressor, an -expansion valve mounted on said base and communically connected with said two-Way Valve, a freezer unit mounted on said base and having a freezing coil communicably connected at one end with said expansion valve, the other end of said freezing coil being comlnunicably connected with said low pressure side of said compressor, a motor mounted on said base for driving said4 com pressor, agitating means for stirring the contents of said freezer unit, said two-way valve being adapted to alternately conduct the refrigerant through said refrigerator boiling coil and the freezing coil of said freezer unit, and means for establishing a driving connection between said motor and said agitating means when said refrigerant is being conducted through said freezing coil.

2. A refrigerating unit adapted to be used in conjunction with the brine tank and boiling coil of a household refrigerator for the boiling expansion and circulation of refrigerant forl the purpose of freezing and chilling liquids and creams in afreezing receptacle, comprising in combination: a base, a compressor mounted on said base, a condenser communicably connected with said compressor, a refrigerant receptacle mounted on said base and communicably connected with said condenser, a two-way valve mounted on said base and communicably connected with said receptacle :and with the boiling coil of said refrigerator, the other end of ysaid refrigerator boiling coil being communicably connected Withthe low pressure side of said compressor, an expansion valve mounted on said base and communicably connected with said two-way valve, a freezer unit mounted on said base and having a freezing coil communicably connected at one end with said expansion valve, the other end of said freezing coilV being communicably connected'with said low pressure side of said compressor, means for driving said'compressor, agitating means for stirring the content-s .of said freezer unit, said two-way valve being adapted to alternately conduct the refrigerant through said refrigerator boiling coil and the `freezing coil of said freezerunit,:and means for establishing a driving connection between said driving means and saidagitating means when said refrigerant is being conducted throughsaid freezing coil.

3. A refrigerating unit adapted to be used in conjunction with the brine tank and boiling coil of a household refrigerator, comprisin'g in combination: a base, a. compressor mounted on said base, a condenser comlll -gio

y municably connected with "said compressor,

mounted on said base and communicably connected with said receptacle and with the boiling coil -of said refrigerator, the other ,Lend o' said refrigerator boiling coil being communicably connected with the low pressure side of s aid compressor, a freezer unit mounted on-said base and having a freezing coil communicably connected at one end with said two-Way valve, the other end of said yfreezing coil being communicablfy connected with said low pressure 4side o said compressor, a motor mounted on said base for driving said-compressor, agitating means for stirring the contents of said freezer unit, said two-Way valve being adapted to alternatelyconduct the refrigerant through said refrigerator brine coil and the freezin coil of said freezer unit, and meansfor esta lishing a driving connection between-said motor and said agitating means `when said reunit including an ex ansion valve and means for conducting iquefied refrigerant` to said valve to form said ice: a freezer unit including a stirrer for agitating the contents of said unit during freezing thereof, said freezing unit having pipe connections with said refrigerating apparatus, a two-way valve for affording access of the refrigerant to said freezing unit when desired, and an expansion valve located in said pipe convnection between said freezin unit and said two-way valve to afford the esired low temerature of the refrigerant .necessary in said reezing unit, said two-Way valve permittim1r selective deliver of the refrigerant to sai ice unit or said reezing u'nit.

In testimonyr whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK L. cooK.

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