US2566865A - Portable refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1951 R. WINGERTER 2,566,865

' PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I VEN TOR.

(5 l ALZJJJ R. WING ERTER PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Sept. 4, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1946 Q o O O a b u I n p a I a a n I n I n n n I aff/orny p 1951 R. WINGERTER 2,566,865

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 4 lfllkzjel zfer 5L7 Alma? fl/ornev Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Ralph Wingerter, Akron, Ohio Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,327

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to mechanical refrigerators and more particularly to portable automatic refrigerator units.

x A general object of the invention is to provide a portable refrigerator unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved "mechanical refrigerator unit wherein a cooling element may be selectively positioned relative to the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved medical ice pack artificially maintained at a predetermined temperature.

Another object is to provide an improved means of maintaining the temperature of a cooling bath such as is used in photographic, and various chemical and manufacturing processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cooling element which is acid and corrosive resistant and, consequently, may be placed directly into acids and other solutions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable refrigerator unit having selectively variable automatic temperature control means.

According to this invention, a refrigerator unit is arranged to be readily portable and to have a cooling element which may be selectively positioned relative to the unit. This unit is adaptable to many chemical and industrial processes wherein it is necessary to cool small amounts of solutions or gases, or to maintain them at a predetermined temperature. The cooling element may be used in place of ice packs or bags for medical purposes. A simple control switch enables the attendant to change the effective temperature of the cooling element at will through an automatic control means associated with the unit.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention which will become more fully apparent from L the following detailed specification, may be achieved by means of the particular refrigerator unit constituting an exemplifying embodiment of the invention that is depicted in and described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable refrigerator unit with the cooling element disposed outside of the carrying case and embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the unit shown in Fig. l, with part of the case broken away to show the compressor driving mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the case with the cover removed to show the cooling element storage compartment;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal view taken on the plane of lines 4-4 in Figs. 2 and 5, and showing the mounting of the refrigerator unit within the case;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken sub- 2 stantially on the plane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view in horizontal crosssection disclosing the construction of a cooling element more generally shown in Fig. 1 connected to the refrigerator unit; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the refrigeratory system.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 thereof show a portable refriger ator unit 9 enclosed in a metal case [0 having a hinged top cover ll provided with a latch l2: and carrying handle l3. As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, a horizontal separator wall l4 secured. in the top portion of the case it forms a storage compartment It in which certain parts of the refrigerator unit may be readily stored when not in use. Thus the entire unit is compactly contained within the case l0 and may be readily carried at the convenience of the user thereof.

The compressor type refrigerator unit 8 generally comprises a compressor unit It, a cooler tank H, a circulating pump 18, and a cooling element I9, as shown in Fig. 4. The various mechanisms are appropriately interconnected as will be hereinafter more fully described,

The compressor IE5 is of the single-acting type, and is belt driven by means of a V belt 20 operating in conjunction with a motor 2| likewise mounted within the carrying case H] (see Figs. 2 and 4). A louver 22 formed in the sidewall of the case It] admits suflicient air to cool the working mechanisms of the refrigerator unit 9 with a suction fan 22A keyed to the end of the motor shaft serving to force the air into the case [0. The compressor It draws refrigerant from the expansion or low side of the refrigerator system, as schematically shown in Fig. 'I, and compresses the refrigerant to a suitable pressure. The hot refrigerant gas is circulated via a tube 23 through a condenser coil 24 shown coiled about the outside of the insulated cooler tank ll. The condenser coil 24 serves to effectively lower the temperature of the compressed refrigerant to the point of liquification. Since the tank I! is insulated, the heat from the coil 24 cannot be directed thereto, but rather is dissipated through a louvre 24A by the air stream created by the fan 22A. At this point, the refrigerant passes to the high side of the system. After it leaves the coil 24 at high pressure, it is circulated through a capillary tube or expansion valve 25 to the evaporating section of the refrigerator system. A conductor tube 26 carries the liquid refrigerant to an evaporator coil 2! appropriately mounted within the cooler tank ll. Therefrigerant is then drawn back to the compressor 16 via a conductor 28 to complete the circuit. The cooling medium, or refrigerant, used in the circuit may be any standard type, such as sulphur dioxide, propane, or butane. It

is to be understood that the system need not necessarily be restricted to the mechanisms described, and that other chemical refrigerants may be used with equal effectiveness.

The evaporator coil 7 21 Within the insulated cooler or brine tank I1 receives the refrigerant in a highly pressurized liquid state. frigerant passes through the coil, it absorbs the latent heat of evaporation from the'dinal refrigerating medium, in the particular case brine, contained in the tank ll. The finai=medium is maintained at a level within the tank to nterflow a circular bafile plate 29, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and '7. This plate serves to control the flow of liquid within the tank by confining the chilled brin'e'solution to ltheicentral portion-of the tank after it has come :into contact with the evaporator coil 2?. The solution is pumpedifrom the center of the tank .1? by the circulating pump l8 which is directly idriven ,trom amotor-Sit. Both the pump and motor are icompactlymounted within the case !0, and are connected by 'ap- .prepri-ate tubing The circulating pump lizB'servestotcirculate the brine solution. from theta-nk H through the cooling element ii! and back to the tank. A supply line 32 carries the :solution to the cooling ele- *ment'!9,while :a line -33 returnsit to the tank. A shut-oi valve 34, as diagrammatically shown 'in Fig, a l, 'may, beireadily inserted ;-in .the lines :32 an-133 to permitidisconnection of theelement 19 from the .rest iii the circuit'with'outlosing 'any'zof the brine solution contained Within either .offlthe "hose lines.

The lines 32' and?3:3,aespecially above the "confiires oi the horizontal lseparatorwall l4 shown "in Fig. '5, are flexible in 'order to permit the ready zplacement .of'ithe cooling element'l9 outlside-fofithecompartment 11 5. vBoth lines are sencased in an :insulating'acket "or cover 35 in .order to protect "the flexible tubes against excessive wear or damageuand toprese'rve the tem- 'perature of the solution *flowing through them. A'iiexibie grommet :ttintermediai-ly disposed between the "edges .of the case 110' and vtheacover :H', as shownfinAFigs. "1 and. 3,*per-mits the cooliing' element tobeplaced outside =of1the' compartzment i5, and allows thGCCOVGI' l-l tobe-closed through the placement.of.thelsheathedaorcovered :lines therein.

"TheTfleXibIe tubes *32 and "fia'i-xconnecting with the cooling element :19 vare'sufficiently .long to permit the element tobe easily-positioned atsome distance from the refrigerator unit .9. r The cooling element 19,- as V-detailedly-shown "in :Fig'. 6, I

As the re-.

Thus, if the element is to be submerged chemical solution or-gas, the-composition .01 the member 37 would "necessarily.have-to be such to be completely resistant to theinjurious efiects of such chemicals. .The tubes '32 and .33 .are cemented directly to the molded member 3.1 .in order to eliminate .any' possibility of .leakageat this point. The brine solution. enters the memberlpassage 38. from'lthetubelfi, and;.after..circu-- 'lating throughthe single,passageway,leaves via tubei33 connecting with'thelbrine tank Il'Ltas indicated. by arrows T391 '.'I-.he.shape and .size .of the cooling element may,-necessar-ily,.be changed to meet a particular application.

If the portable refrigerator is to be used in hos pitals, first aid rooms, and other medical institu tions to serve as mechanical ice packs, the cooling element 19 may be provided with a removable sterilized cloth bag or sack Kit. A zipper or clasp device 4'! (see Fig. 1) on the bag 4% will afiord .quick removal therefrom.

Automatic control of the refrigerator unit 9 is Iprovid'ed'in order to insure accurate temperature controlat all times while the unit is in use. The compressor motor 2! and the circulating pump motor 39' are electrically interconnected into an automatic temperature control circuit. Power for thecircuit is derived by plugging in an extension cord 42 connecting therewith into any stand- :ardfel'ectrical wan outlet. 2A starting switch 43 and'aftemperature'selectorswitch :46 :erezmounted on the side of the :casing :55?) .to :eiifcrdflthe nser of means of starting 131161111111? and pi selectingan operating temperature which he desires to main- :taLin. These switches :aretinterconnectediinto the circuit, together with -.a thermostatic econtrol device $5.5 seeliigs. i5 and .7) operablymounted on the tank l1. With this arrangement, the :temzp'era'ture ofrthefinal refrigerating medium the tank 5! '5 maybe accurately controlled at all tim'es while the :unit is operating. Themotors 2i "and are automatically energized and deaenergized asith'e ccntrol devicessdictate.

The refrigerating :device disclosed herein has great utility, :especiallyaWhen adapted to medical, chemicalror industrial uses. The number of 'applications iin :each of ithese'fleld's are "very numer- Although 'rthe'foregoing description' and .the accompanying 'sdrawings have set forth the present invention for :*-he vmost :partin one. exemplary -mec-hanism, it is ts f'be' under-stood that the-strut) ture shown and described is intended only toirbe illustrative of an operative embodimentsof the invention; and :that fit is contemplated that the varlousffeatures thereof maybeincorporated into other types cof igerating systems without departing from -thesspirit: and sco'penf theinveriti'on :as :definediinxtheisubjoined claim.

'The principles of the invention having :now been lfuily-explained in -:connection with the esi- Lempliiying apparatus herein set forth, I hereby "claim:as my inventionand discovery:

A' 'portable refrigerator unit comprising a case, azmo'tor mounted in said case-a reirigerator unit mounted in saiacase and operatively driven by said motor, an automatic control means electricallyi'connected to control theoperation of said 'irrotorand the heat absorption of the refrigerator aunit, -:a :fiexible ire'frigerator coil element opera ;tively *connectedto said refrigerator unit,'-a-'storagec'ompartment in said-case designed to retain ssaid-rcoil lementnwhen not in use, :a c'over element hingedly. disposed :to 1 enclose said compartment, and a carrying means attachedto=said potter fto rprbvide lfor ease of portability :or said uni V :RAEPH wr-NGERTER;

4 .RE-FERENcEs CITED 'lhe following references areof recordtin"' the hile ofth-ispaltent: V

' TINITEDlSTATESBATEN-TS 110,022 z-K-liesrath -a..- Mar..:1,'f19'38

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