US2363434A - Refrigeration - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1944. R. c. OSBORN 2363,4134

. REFRIGERATION Filed June' 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 6 I 1 INVENTQR v Ralph (3. 035mm ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21:, 1944 UNITED STATE s- PATENT. OFFICE REFRIGERATION Ralph C. Osborn. North Canton. Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company. North Canton, Ohio Application June 25, 1941, Serial No. 399,636 17 Claims. (01. 62-1195) This invention relates to the art of refrigeration vand more particularly to a novel arrangement of a three-fluid absorption refrigerating machine withrespect to a cabinet with which it is to be utilized. 1

It is universal-practice in the art of three-fluid absorption refrigerating machines to support the apparatus on a heavy, cumbersome and rigid L- shaped metal frame which extends throughout the mechanism compartment customarily provided in the lower portion of the cabinet structure and up the rear walls thereof in that portion of the cabinet structure commonly designated as an air flue through which the coolingair for the absorber and condenser flows to an ultimate point of disposal at the top of the cabi-' net.

Due to the space requirements of the heavy frame and its cross bracing tructur it h here tofore been necessary to allow a minimum depth of approximately five inches for the rear flue. This imposes very serious difliculties upon the designer of three-fluid absorption refrigerating machines because of the fact that the total depth of household kitchen appliances is strictly limited by universally recognized custom and it will not do to have one appliance project further-from the wall than the standard depth within which other kitchen appliancesare maintained. Previous constructions are also wasteful of material because they fail to utilize the inherent great mechanical strength of the refrigerating machine.

itself.

Due to the fact that the various parts of threefluid absorption refrigerating machines must be constructed to withstand high pressures and to maintain very light gases at such high pressures, they inherently possess great mechanical strength, neverthelessin prior machines this great mechanical strength has not been-utilized for the purpose of supporting or aiding in the supporting of the various parts of the apparatus.

The heavy L-shaped frame customarily provided in prior machines adds greatly to the weight of an already heavy mechanism, thus increasing the cost and difliculty of handling and installation of the machine.

Accordingly, it'is a principal object of the present invention to devise an absorption refrigerating machine in which the inherently great mechanical strength of the various parts thereof is efllciently utilized to aid in supporting the machine in which the depth of the rear flue is reduced to a figure not more than half the present minimum depth of theflue and in which the framework provided to hold the various parts of the apparatus in their proper rela'tivepositions is greatly reduced in size, extent and weight.

- It is a further object of thepresent invention 'to utilize certain inherently strong parts of the refrigerating machine such as the vertically extending gas heat exchanger structure and the vertically extending rectifier as the supporting framework of the entire mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to place certain bulky portions of the refrigerating mechanism in spaces formed by cutting unnecessary insulation oil the rear corners of the cabinet in order to utilize space more efficiently and to reduce the depth of the rear air flue in the cabinet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide refrigerator constructions designed for use with a three-fluid absorptionrefrigerating machine in which certain bulky portions or the apparatus, such as the gas heat exchanger and vertically extending waste products of combustion flue are completely within the outside dimensions of the walls of the storage compartment in a construction which does not necessitate the provision of recesses in the cabinet structure to provide for embedded parts'of the apparatus and in an arrangement which does not impair the insulating qualities of the cabinet construction.

It 'is a further object of the invention to provide a, refrigerating mechanism of the three-fluid absorption type in which the rearairflue is substantially eliminated and in which the condenser ,is supported in a narrow side air flue.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when the same is' taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a refrigerating machine embodying the present invention;

the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken along first to Figure 1 thereof, there is disclosed an absorption refrigerating machine of the threefluid type comprising a boiler B, an analyzer D, a vertically extending finned air cooled rectifier R, a tubular air cooled condenser C, an evaporator E, a vertically positioned multi-pass gas heat exchanger G, a slightly inclined air cooled tubular absorber A, a liquid heat exchanger L, a solution reservoir S, a circulating fan or gas pump F which is driven by an electrical motor M. These elements are connected by various conduits to form a. plurality of gas and liquid circuits constituting a complete refrigerating machine.

The above described refrigerating mechanism will be charged with. a suitable refrigerant, such as ammonia, an absorbent therefor, such as water, and a pressure equalizing medium which is inert with respect to the refrigerant and the absorbent, preferably a dense gas like nitrogen.

The boiler B will be provided with a suitable heater, such as a fuel burner or an electrical cartridge heater, not shown, for the purpose of heating the solution therein contained.

A control mechanism will also be provided for regulating the energization of the motor M and the boiler heater in order to regulate the operation of the system. A preferred type of control mechanism is' disclosed-in Patent No. 2,228,343 of Curtis C. Coons, dated January 14, 1941.

The application of heat to the solution in the boiler B liberates refrigerant vapor therefrom which passes upwardly through the analyzer D, conduit H and rectifier R to the upper portion of the condenser C in which it is liquefied by'heat exchange with cooling air. The liquid refrigerant formed in the condenser is conveyed therefrom through a U-shaped conduit I2 into the gas supply conduit I3 which enters the bottom of the evaporator.

Inert gas is supplied to the bottom of the evaporator E from the circulating fan F under pres sure through the conduit 14, the gas heat exchanger G and the conduit E3. The inert gas flows upwardly through the evaporator with sufficient pressure and velocity to circulate the liquid refrigerant through the evaporator as the liquid .is evaporating into the gas to produce a refrig- "finned walls of the absorber tubes.

1941, now Patent No. 2,328,195 granted Aug. 31,

The inert gas after traversing the evaporator and the finned box-cooling conduit l6 thereof discharges through a conduit H to the gas heat exchanger from which it is conveyed by a conduit l8 to the bottom portion of the absorber A. The inert gas flows upwardly through the absorber in contact with absorption solution in a manner to be described hereinafter and flows from the top portion of the absorber to the suction side of the fan or gas pump F through a conduit l9, thus completing the inert gas circuit.

The condenser side of the U-shaped liquid discharge conduit 12 is vented by means of a conduit 20 to the gas discharge conduit ll of theevaporator.

The lean solution formed in the boiler by the evolution of refrigerant vapor therefrom is conveyed from the boiler to the solution reservoir 5 by way of the conduit 22, the liquid heat exchanger L and the finned pre-cooling conduit.

The solution reservoir 8 is vented by means of a conduit 24 to the suction conduit IQ of the inert gas fan in order to subject the reservoir that part of the lean solution circuit between the reservoir and boiler to the suction pressure of the apparatus. The lean solution is elevated from the solution reservoir into the upper portion of the absorber by means of a gas lift pump conduit 25 to which pumping gas is supplied by means of a conduit 26 connecting between the discharge conduit H of the fan and the conduit 25 below the liquid level normally therein maim tained.

The lean solution flows downwardly through the absorber by gravity in counterfiow relationship to the rich mixture of pressure equalizing medium and refrigerant vapor flowing upwardly therethrough. The solution absorbs refrigerant vapor and the resulting heat of absorption is rejected to cooling air flowing over the exterior The rich solution formed in the absorber flows to the bottom portion'thereof from which point it is corpveyed to the analyzer D by way of the conduit 2%. the liquid heat exchanger L, and conduit 29, thus completing the solution circuit.

The above described refrigerating apparatus is associated with a suitable cabinet structure 36 which includes an insulated refrigerating chamber 3| provided in the rear wall thereof with an opening indicated at 32. The cabinet structure also includes a mechanism compartment underlying the insulated chamber 3|. The cabinet structure as a whole rests upon a base frame structure 35 which, as is indicated in Figure 1, is open to allow free access of cooling air into the compartment 33.

The side wall plates 36 of the chamber 3i are extended rearwardly of the rear wall of the compartment to form a shallow vertically extending air line 3'? along the rear wall of the cabinet. It will be noted that the two rear corners of the cabinet structure are diagonally out off by the diagonal walls 38 in order to form a pair of roughly triangular shaped pockets 39 which nevertheless lie within the extended dimensions of, the rear plate of the rear wall of the cabinet and of the side plates 36 not including that part of the plates 3% extended rearwardly to form the flue 31.

The boiler-analyzer liquid heat exchanger, solution reservoir, absorber, motor and fan unit are positioned in the compartment t3 beneath the chamber II and forwardly of the flue 31, so that no part of the apparatus need extend beyond the rear edge of the extended side plates 36. The mechanism within the compartment 33 rests upon and is suitably secured to a square frame ll made up of welded channel and angle irons. The boiler analyzer liquid heat exchanger assembly is encased in insulating material indicated generally at 42 and rests upon the frame 4|. The other portions of the apparatus within the compartment 32 may be supported from various parts of the frame ll by short welded supporting bars and by welds where the parts touch in a known manner; if desired, however, the rigidity of the system itself in connection with the frame structure to be described hereinafter furnishes suflicient support in most sizes of machines.

The frame at its rear portion includes a pair of upstanding channel iron members 50 and El. These members are welded at their lower ends to the base frame 4| and at their upper ends to the lower portion of the was heat exchangerG and to a verticallyrextending flue pipe 52 for the boiler B. It will be understood that the flue pipe will connect to the flue 53 of the boiler and that the pipe extends to the top portion of the cabinet so as to discharge the waste products of combustion at a point where they will not interfere with cooling of the condenser.

The elements 50 and are braced on the frame 4| by angularly positioned angle irons. 59. The

material because of the materials which pass. therethrough, therefore it is inherently strong enough to serve as a vertical frame member for the apparatus. The flue 52 is interiorly lined with an asbestos liner 49 t protect the same from the hot gases discharged by the boiler heater and to minimize condensation in the flue. The gas heat exchanger G is exteriorly wrapped with a layer 54 of material such as sponge rubber which will prevent condensation from forming on the exterior surface thereof which, in part, may be at a low temperature.

The condenser is supported directly from the ,vertically' extending rectifier R which in turn is supported by .the conduit II and boiler-analyzer assembly. The condenser is also supported by the conduits 20 and 12 which connect the same to the gas conduits I3 and H.

A pair of channel irons 55 and 56 extend across the back wall of the cabinet structure and are welded at their ends tothe gas heat exchanger G and to the waste products of combustion flue 52. An insulated closure panel element 60 is supported from the channel irons 55 and 56 by suitable bolt elementsor the like (H. The evaporator and the box-cooling unit It are supported from the conduits I1 and I 3 and are also supported by the closure element 60. .A suitable gasket 52 is provided to seal the joints between the closure element and the walls of the opening 32. I

.If desired, short supporting elements. may be welded between the elements and 58 and the gas conduits I! and I3, respectively, adjacent the I points at which the gas conduits turn inwardly into the closure element 60 to provide addition support for the evaporator. From the above description it is believed to be readily apparent that the entire refrigerating mechanism is formed into a rigid whole and in which the inherent mechanical strength of various parts of the refrigerating mechanism is utilized'to form the supporting frame therefor, as a result of which the present apparatus is matetions.

It is also apparent that the only elements of the refrigerating mechanism lying rearwardly of the plane of the rear space of the cabinet per so are the condenser, rectifier, supports 55 and 55, and certain connecting conduits, as a. consequence of which the depth of the flue 31 need be only approximately one-half the flue depth necessary in prior machines. The space utilization is very efficient as the combined gas heat exchanger and support and the combined-products of combustion flue and support are positioned in cut-away corners of the apparatus where they lie within the rially lighter and simpler than prior construcnormal extent of the side and rear walls of the cabinet structure per se and yet do not interfere with the insulating capacity of thecabinet as the insulation of the comer is normally far thicker than necessary. It is also apparent that with the exception of the condenser and rectifier and certain connecting conduits all portions of .the apparatus are positioned within the horizontally projected area of the normal outer walls of the insulating compartment 3| either in cut away corners thereof as is the case of the gas heat exchanger and flue pipe or beneath the compartment 3i as is the case of the absorber, boiler assembly, and the motor c'irculator assembly.

'In the manufacture of the above described refrigerating machine the entire refrigerating mechanism,'the frame 4|, the frame bars 50, 5|, 55, 56 and 59, the panel 60 are assembled as a unitary whole and may be tested prior to assemby with the cabinet. After testing of theapparatus the same is slid into the cabinet structure from the rear thereof with the evaporator passing through the opening 32 and the panel 60 passin into and filling the opening 32. The frame 4| then rests upon the base plate 35 of the cabinet structure to which it may be secured by suitable bolts, not shown.- The apparatus is then completely constructed.

It will be appreciated that the refrigerating mechanism per se comprises a generally U-shaped structure with one leg ofv the U constituting the forwardly projecting evaporator, the bight portion of the U constituting the frame bars 50 and 5|, the gas heat exchanger G, the flue pipe, condenser and rectifier, and with the other leg of the U constituting the boiler, analyzer, liquid heat exchanger, absorber assembly which will project beneath the bottom wall of the cabinet 3| and directly beneath the evaporator E. This is a rigid assembly with a minimum of framework provided therefor which is distinct from normal elements of the refrigerating mechanism itself. Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, there is illustrated a modified form of the-invention. The refrigerating mechanism per se of this form of the invention is identical with the refrigerating mechnism per se of the form of the invention described and illustrated in connection with Figures 1 and 2. I The arrangement of the -mecha-, nism with respect to the cabinet, however, in this form of the invention is difierent from that disclosed in connection with Figures 1 and 2. Cer-- tain portions of the apparatus illustrated in Fi ures 3 to 5 being identical with portions of the apparatus described inconnection with Figures 3 -1 and 2, they are given the same reference characters primed.

In this form of the invention themechanism chamber 33 and its associated parts are identical with those described and illustrated in connection with Figures 1 and 2. In this form of the invention howeve the rear flue 80 which is formed by extending the left hand, as viewed in Figure 4, sidewall 8! of the chamber 3| and by an auxiliary wall 82 positioned in spaced relationship with the right hand, as viewed in Figure 4, wall of the chamber 30' extends beyond the rear face of the rear wall of the chamber 3| only a distancesuflicient to encase the-conduits I2,

l3, ll, 20- and the channel bars 55 and 55';

- that is, a distance or approximately one-fifth ofthat customarily provided in the rear, flue of three-fluid absorption refrigerating machines. As is readily apparent from Figure 4the position of the gas heat exchanger G is identical with the position of .the gas heat exchanger G shown in Figure 2. In this form of the invention, however, the wall 82 which is positioned in spaced relationship with one side wall of the cabinet 81 forms an additional cooling air flue 85 which receives the condenser C. The waste products of combustion flue pipe 52' is positioned rearwardly in the flue 85 and inwardly of the plane of the rear face of the rear wall of the chamber 3|. The rectifier R extends vertically between the condenser and flue pipe 52'.

The upper end of the flue 85 is closed by an I extension 83 of the wall 82 which is provided with louvres 84 to allow escape of cooling air and waste products of combustion. In this form of the invention the condenser C is additionally supported by a compression member 86 which is welded between one part of the bottom tube of the condenser C and the rectifier R below the level of the condenser. The rectifier is rigidly attachedto the flue pipe 52 by a short compression member 81 and by a short tension member 88, thus forming a rigid assembly of the flue pipe, condenser and rectifier.

It is therefore readily apparent that in this form of the invention the rear flue is substantially eliminated except for a very shallow space required to relieve the conduits l3 and [1, but this is amply suflicient to convey away the cooling air which has passed across the absorber in the compartment 33', though the compartment 33' is also open to the flue 85 through which cooling air flows to pass across and cool the condenser C. This form of the invention of course increases the space width of the cabinet but there are many circumstances in which this is unobjectionable and is much to. be preferred to even a small increase in the depth of the cabinet due to a rear flue.

- This form of the invention like that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is so constructed that the refrigerating mechanism forms a complete rigid assembly with the cooperation of the space frame elements and the channel bars 55 and 56'.

Both forms of the present invention provide very compact, simplified relatively light weight and extremely rigid assembly of refrigerating mechanisms in cabinets which are characterized by a great reduction in the depth of the cabinet structure and particularly in a reduction of that portion of the cabinet structure which is utilized to provide a rear air flue. It is also a characteristic of the present invention that the inherently great mechanical strength of the various parts of three-fluid absorption refrigerating machines is utilized most effectively to support the apparatus without the use of a complete additional framework.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, various changes may be made in the arrangement, construction and proportion of ,parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Three-fluid absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, a condenser, an absorber, a boiler and a vertically extending gas heat exchanger, a vertically extending waste products of combustion flue arranged to carry waste products from said boiler positioned in spaced relationship with said gas heat exchanger; a base frame element terminating below the level of said evaporator supporting said boiler; frame elements rigidly connecting said base frame to Gil the lower portions of said gas heat exchanger and said flue; connections constructed of strong tubing for conducting fluids between parts of said refrigerating apparatus and for suspending .said evaporator, said absorber and said condenser from said gas heat exchanger, and frame elements rigidly connecting the upper portions of said gas heat exchanger and said flue.

2. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure having an insulated refrigerating chamber and a mechanism compartment extending below and along a vertical wall of said refrigerating chamber; an absorption refrigerating mechanism associated with said cabinet structure comprising an evaporator positioned in said chamber, an air cooled absorber positioned in said compartment below said evaporator, a condenser positioned along said vertical wall adjacent the top thereof, a boiler positioned in said compartment, a gas heat exchanger extending vertically along a wall of said chamber; a boiler flue extending vertically along said wall of said chamber in spaced relationship with said gas heat exchanger; a base frame in said compartment below said refrigerating chamber supporting said boiler, and the lower ends of said gas heat exchanger and said flue; and connections for said refrigerating mechanism constructed of heavy tubing; said apparatus being so constructed and arranged that said absorber, said condenser and said evaporator are supported in their respective positions solely by said gas heat exchanger and said boiler flue.

3. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure having an insulated refrigerating chamber and an underlying mechanism compartment; said cabinet structure having the rear vertical corners of said chamber cut away; an absorption refrigerating apparatus associated with said cabinet structure comprising an evaporator in said refrigerating chamber, an absorber and a boiler in said compartment, a condenser positioned adjacent a vertical wall of said chamber, a gas heat exchanger positioned in the space provided in one of said cut away portions of said cabinet and within the extended dimensions of the outer walls of said chamber and means connecting said evaporator, said absorber, said condenser, said gas heat exchanger and said boiler in circuit; a waste products of combustion flue for said boiler positioned in the other of said cut away portions and within the extended dimensions of the outer walls of said cabinet; and means including said connectln'g means for supporting said evaporator, said condenser and said absorber from said boiler, said gas heat exchanger and said flue.

4. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure having an insulated refrigerating chamber and an underlying mechanism compartment; said cabinet structure having the rear vertical corners of said chamber cut-away; an absorption refrigerating apparatus associated with said cabinet structure comprising an evaporator, an absorber, a boiler, a condenser and a gas heat exchanger connected in circuit; a frame in said mechanism compartment supporting said boiler and said gas heat exchanger, 9. products of combustion flue for said boiler in said cut away portions of said cabinet structure; said evaporator being positioned in said refrigerating chamber, said absorber being positioned in said mechanism compartment, said condenser being positioned closely adjacent a vertical wall of said chamber; said apparatus being so constructed and arranged that said ab sorber, said evaporator and said condenser are v 2,363,484 supported by said gas heat exchanger and said flue.

5. A rigid refrigerating machine assembly comair cooled absorber; an evaporator; a boiler; a vertically extending gas heat exchanger positioned adjacent a lateral end of said absorber; substantially rigid means connecting said condenser, said absorber, said evaporator, said gas heat exchanger and said boiler in circuit with said evaporator projecting forwardly of said cn-' denser and said absorber lying below and in spaced relationship with said evaporator, a waste products of combustion flue extending vertically from said boiler adjacent the other lateral edge of said absorber and a base frame element secured to and supporting said boiler and the lower ends of said gas heat exchanger and said flue, said apparatus being so con'structedand arranged that a rigid assembly is formed in which the absorber, condenser, evaporator, boilerand gas heat exchanger are secured to and supported from one another by said substantially rigid connecting means, and means rigidly connecting the upper ends of said gas heat exchanger and said -flue whereby-said base frame, said gas heat exchanger and said flue and said last mentioned means form the bottom, sides and top respectively, of a frame carrying said condenser and said evaporator above said base frame.

6. In a rigid refrigerating machine assembly; a plurality of refrigerator elements including a tubular air cooled absorber, a tubular air cooled bly characterized in that said absorber and said evaporator are positioned in vertically spaced relationship forwardly of said gas heat exchanger, and said condenser is positioned laterally of said evaporator and extends in the same general direction with respect to said gas heat exchanger.

7. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure including an insulated food storage chamber having an opening in a wall thereof adapted to receive an evaporator, a closure element for said opening, a mechanism chamber underlying said storage chamber, means forming a shallow air flue along the vertical wall of said storage chamber having said opening, the corners of said storage compartment at said flue being rounded off to form spaces forwardly of said flue and within the conwith said cabinet structure comprising an evaporator positioned in said storage chamber, a condenser in said flue, an absorber in said mechanism chamber, a boiler in said mechanism chamber, inert gas conducting means positioned in.

ture; and means for supporting said closure element from said flue and said gas conveying means,said apparatus being so constructed and I prising a tubular air cooled condenser; a'tubular arranged that said refrigerator elements, said connecting means and said gas conveying means form a structural whole in which the various parts thereof are maintained in position by the inherent mechanical strength thereof,

8. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure including an insulated food storage chamber having an opening in the rear wall thereof adapted to receive an evaporator, a closure element for vfines of the walls of said storage compartment; a plurality of refrigerator elements associatedsaid opening, a-mechanism chamber underlying said storage chamber, means forming ashallow air flue along a vertical side wall of said storage chamber, the rear corners of said storage chamher being rounded off to provide spaces within the extended horizontal dimensions of the outer walls of said storage chamber; a plurality of refrigerator elements associated with said cabinet structure comprising an evaporator positioned in said storage chamber, a condenser in said flue, an

absorber in said mechanism chamber, a boiler in said mechanism chamber, inert gas conducting means positioned in one of said spaces, and conduit means connecting said elements and said inert gas conducting means in circuit; 'a'waste products of combustion flue for said boiler lying in the other of said spaces; means in said mechanism compartment supportingsaid boiler, said gas conveying means, and said flue on the-base of said cabinet structure; and means for supporting said closure element from said flue and said gas conveying means, said apparatus being so constructed and arranged that said refrigerator elements, said connecting means and said gas conveying means form a structural whole in which the various parts thereof are maintained in position by the inherent mechanical strength thereof.

9. In a refrigerator, a cabinet structure in cluding an insulated refrigerating chamber having an evaporator receiving opening in one wall thereof and a mechanism chamber having a portion underlying said refrigerating chamber and a shallow vertically extending portion; a refrigcrating mechanism associated with said cabinet structure including an evaporator in said refrigerating chamber, an absorber and a boiler in the portion of said mechanism chamber underlying said refrigerating chamber and forwardly of the rear wall of said cabinet structure, a products of combustion flue for said boiler and a gas heat exchanger positioned in spaced relationship in the shallow portion of said mechanism chamber a condenser in the vertically extending portion of said mechanism chamber and closely adjacent the vertical rear wall of said refrigerating chamber; means connecting said evaporator, said condenser, said gas heat exchanger, said absorber and said boiler in circuit; means positioned wholly within said underlying portion of said mechanism chamber for supporting said apparatus on the base of said cabinet structure, said apparatus being characterized by the fact that anism chamber underlying said storage compartment, a cooling chamber extending along a vertical side wall of said storage compartment, and a shallow chamber of sufiicient depth to receive refrigerant conduit elements extending along the rear wall of said storage compartment, said storage compartment having a diagonally cut vertical rear comer on the side opposite to said cooling chamber; an absorption refrigerating apparatus associated with said cabinet structure including an evaporator in said storage compartment, an absorber and a boiler in said mechanism compartment, an air cooled condenser in said cooling chamber, a gas heat exchanger in the space formed by said vertically cut corner; and means lying in part in said shallow chamber for connecting said evaporator, said absorber, said boiler, said gas heat exchanger and said condenser in circuit.

11. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure having an insulated storage compartment, a mechanism chamber underlying said storage compartment, a cooling chamber extending along a vertical side wall of said storage compartment, and a shallow chamber of sufiicient depth to receive refrigerant conduit elements extending along the rear wall of said storage compartment, said storage compartment having a diagonally cut vertical rear corner on the side opposite to said cooling chamber; an absorption refrigerating apparatus associated with said cabinet structure including an evaporator in said storage compartment, an absorber and a boiler in said mechanism compartment, an air-cooled condenser in said cooling chamber, a gas heat exchanger in the space formed by said vertically cut corner; and means lying in part in said shallow chamber for connecting said evaporator, said absorber, said boiler, said gas heat exchanger and said condenser in circuit; a waste products of combustion flue for said boiler positioned in the rear part of said cooling chamber; means in said compartment supporting said boiler, said gas heat exchanger and said flue on said cabinet structure; said apparatus being so constructed and arranged that the same forms a rigid structure in which said connecting means serves to maintain the parts thereof in their proper relativ positions. 12. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure having an insulated storage compartment, a mechanism chamber underlying said storage compartment, a cooling chamber extending along a vertical side wall of said storage compartment, and

a shallow chamber of suflicicnt depth to receive refrigerant conduit elements extending along the rear wall of said storage compartment, said storage compartment having a diagonally cut vertical rear corner on the side opposite to said cooling chamber; an absorption refrigerating apparatus associated with said cabinet structure including an evaporator in said storage compartment, an absorber and a boiler in said mechanism com partment, an air cooled condenser in said cooling chamber, a gas heat exchanger in the space formed by said vertically cut corner; a rectifier extending vertically from said boiler to said condenser and positioned in the rear portion of said cooling chamber, means lying in part in said shallow chamber for connecting said evaporator, said absorber, said boiler, said gas heat exchanger and said condenser in circuit, and a waste products of combustion flue for said boiler extending vertically in said cooling chamber, meansbracing said condenser and said rectifier from saidflue; said apparatus being so constructed and arranged that the same forms a rigid structure in which the said connecting means serves to maintain the parts thereof in their proper relative positions.

13. A refrigerator assembly comprising a base frame element, a boiler resting upon and secured to said base frame element, a vertical gas heat exchanger positioned above and secured at its lower end to the upper end of said frame ele ment, a vapor conducting element extending upwardly from said boiler, a condenser connected to the upper end of said vapor conduit and partially supported thereby, an evaporator positioned forwardly of said gas heat exchanger and said rectifier, gas conduits connecting said evaporator to said gas heat exchanger and supporting said evaporator, a conduit connecting said condenser to one of said gas conduits and also serving to support said condenser, an absorber and a gas pump positioned beneath said evaporator, gas conduits connecting said absorber and said gas pump to said gas heat exchanger and serving to support said absorber and said gas pump, a solution reservoir and a gas lift solution pump positioned below said absorber, and conduits connecting said boiler, said gas lift pump, said reservoir and said absorber to form a solution circuit, said assembly forming a substantially rigid structure in which the inherent strength of the parts thereof serves to maintain the same in their proper positions relative to each other and to support them from said base frame.

14. In a refrigerating apparatus of the absorption typ a boiler, an absorber, a condenser, an evaporator, an upstanding heat exchange element, means connecting said elements in circuit to form a refrigerating system, an upstanding productsof combustion flue for said boiler, said heat exchange element and said products of combustion flue being spaced laterally at the rear corners of said refrigerating apparatus, said absorber being positioned forwardly of said gas heat exchanger, said evaporator being positioned above said absorber, said condenser being positioned laterally of said evaporator, a base frame secured to said boiler and the lower ends of said heat exchange element and said flue for supporting said apparatus in vertical positions, frame means rigidly connecting the upper portions of said heat exchange element and said fiue to form therewith and with said base frame a rigid vertical supporting structure and conduit means for supporting said evaporator, said condenser and said absorber from said heat exchange element and said boiler.

15. In a rigid refrigerating machine assembly; a plurality of refrigerator elements including a tubular air cooled absorber, a tubular air cooled condenser, a boiler assembly, a vertically extending gas heat exchanger, an evaporator and conduit means connecting said elements in circuit, a vertically extending products of combustion flue, means positioned below said evaporator and said condenser supporting said boiler assembly and the lower endsof said gas heat exchanger and said products of combustion flue and a light cross frame connecting the upper ends of said gas heat'exchanger and said flue; said apparatus bein so constructed and arranged that said elements form a rigid self-supportingassembly characterized in that said absorber and said evaporator are positioned in vertically spaced relationship forwardly of said gas heat exchanger.

the upper ends of said gas 16. In a rigid refrigerating machine assembly; a plurality oi refrigerator tubular air-cooled absorber, condenser, a boiler assembly, ing gas heat exchanger, a fluid circulator, an evaporator and conduit means connecting said elements in circuit, a vertically extending proda tubular air-cooled ucts of combustion flue, means positioned below elements including a a vertically extendframe connecting condenser, a boiler assembly,

irig gas heat exchanger the lower end or which is positioned adjacent'a rear corner of said aban evaporator and conduit means consorber,

elements in circuit, a vertically exnecting said tending products of portion of which is positioned' adjacent the vother rear corner of said absorber, means sup-' porting said boiler assembly and the lower ends of said gas heatexchanger' and said products of combustion flue; and means connecting the upper ends of said'gas heat exchanger and said flue and lying closely adjacent said condenser, said apparatus being 'so constructed and arranged that said elements form a rigid self-supporting assembly characterized in that said absorber lies in 'a plane inclined slightly to the horizontal and said evaporator and .said absorber are positioned in vertically spaced relago tionship forwardly of said gas heat exchanger.

RALPH c, osizorm.

a vertically extendcombustion flue, the lower

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