US1719526A - Refrigerator and display case - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1929. R. TROJAHN REFRIGERATOR AND DISPLAY CASE Filed Aug. 18, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 u gnuentot Raberi @qjdivv.

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July 2, 1929. R. TROJAHN REFRIGERATOR AND DISPLAY CASE '3 She etS-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18. 1927 M. M M

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,119,525 PATYEINT OFFICE.

ROBERT TBOJ'AH'N, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

REFRIGERATOR AND DISPLAY CASE.

Application filed August 18, 1927. Serial No. 218,844.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerators, articularly those in combination with disp ay features.

A prime object of this inventionis to provide a refrigerator wherein a continuous circulation of brine is brought about by the raising and lowering of the temperature of the brine, thereby producing a siphon result, the cold brine flowing downward thereby forcing the warm brine into the upper chamber, therefrigerant liquid passing through the brine containers in the ordinary manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a suitable head acking gland for the purpose of allowing or the expansion and contraction of the refrigerant tubes which pass through the brine containers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination refrigerator and display case, having, preferably, the freezlng portion in the bottom of the case, thereby greatly economizing in the space requiredor the device.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description of the device and as disclosed in the three sheets of drawings which are herewith made a part of this application.

In the drawings- Figure 1' illustrates a perspective view of the refrigerator and display case, with portions broken away, disclosing the different elements in operative and assembled relationship.

Figure 2 represents the receiving end view of the brine solution containers disclosing the refrigerant tubes and the thermo-siphon device in assembled relationship thereto.

Figure 3 illustrates the return end view of 40 the brine solution containers disclosing the refrigerant liquid tubes in assembled relationship thereto and the relative position of the return end of the thermo-siphon arrangement.

Figure' i illustrates a sectional view of the receiving endof one of the brine solution containers disclosing the gland head, the packing gland and packing element in assembled relationship with the refrigerant tube for the purposeof allowing the expansion and contraction thereof.

Figure 5 represents asectional view of a brine solution container disclosing the relative position therein of the refrigerant tube. 55 Numeral 1 designates a container adapted for use as a refrigerator wall in combination with certain members 2 arranged for the purpose of displaying articles which may be placed in the container for cooling,-it being understood that the display members combined with the container 1 may be of any desirable type such as glass elements set in suitable frames.

In the embodiment of the invention herewith described and claimed the storage chamber or container 1 is of an elongated type adapted'to have in its front wall transparent members, such as glass 2, preferably of three thicknesses, and the rear wall of the chamber 1 is provided with suitable panels having hinged and sliding features and fitted with a plurality of thlcknesses of glass or cork insulation as may be desired.

In the refrigerator, according to this invention, the re rigerant elements are located in such a manner that an even temperature is maintained within the show case. This advantage is brought about by an arrangement of the brine solution containers and the refrigerant tubes passing therethrough within that part of the display case ordinarily the warmest, which is the uppermost part of the show case, heat, of course, rising. In the arrangement of the refrigerant elements disclosed in Figure 1, the brine solution container 3 is located at the uppermost point in the display case while the cooperating brine solution containers 4 and 5 are positioned at a suitable distance below the member 3, usually determined-by the size of the display space within the container 1. Obviously, any number of refrigerant elements, such as 3, 4 and 5, may be installed within the container or chamber 1 depending upon the size of the apparatus, temperature required or other limiting features without affecting the merits of this invention.

In order to obtain a uniform temperature within the space, it is preferred to extend the refrigerant liquid tubes 6 through the up- 100 per or top portion of the brine solution containers 3, 4 and 5, as clearly disclosed at 7,

8 and 9, the refrigerant liquid, such as ammonia, carbonic gas or other suitable liquid, is adapted to flow through the refrigerant 105 tubes 6 from anysuitable source, and circulates b mechanical means or compression throng the brine solution container, and the by- passes 10 and 11, delivering to the compressor or other suitable device through outlet section 12, it being understood that an type of refrigerating circulation means, suc as an absorption system, may be utilized.

In order to allow for the expansion and contraction of the refrigerant tube 6 as it passes through and into the brine solution containers, a head gland 13, made of sultable material, is sweated or welded to an open end of the brine solution container as clearly disclosed in Figure 4. The refrigerant tube 6 is adapted to slidably extend through an opening in the head end 13, the opemng being preferably located so as to allow the refrigerant tube to pass through the brine solution container 3 in the top portion thereof. A packing gland 14 is ada ted to be mounted upon the tube 6 and suita 1y fastened to the head end 13 by means of stud bolts 15 or other suitable fastening elements. The packing gland 14 is provided with a notched portion 16 for the purpose of receiving packing material 18, the notched portion 16 1n the packing gland 14 cooperating with extending shoulder portion 18 from the head end 13 in such a manner that an eficient packing or sealing effect is brought about between the refrigerant tube 6 and the packing gland 14, at the same time allowin freedom of movement in its expansion an contraction due to the difierent temperatures. It is to be understood that packing glands and head ends similar to those disclosed in Figure 4 are located at each end of the brine solution containers 3, 4 and 5. N

In order to take advantage of the fact that the warm brine has a tendency to rise and the cold brine to drop, a thermo-siphon arrangement is preferred for this invention, wherein, at the receiving end of the refrigerating element as disclosed in Figure 2, suitable tubular members 19, 20 and 21 are brought into 0 en communication with the lower portion of the brine liquid containers in such a manner that the cold brine liquid, being first cooled in the bottom of the top container 3, will function to start the thermo-siphon circulation and flows downward through the tubular elements 19, 20 and 21 and into the lower portions of the cooperating containers 4 and 5; the cooled liquid at the bottom of the containers 4 and 5 will tend to force the warmer brine from the opposite end through tion while cooling.

In operation, this invention provides a.

combined refrigerator and display case in which the cooling effects are uniform throughout the display space within the container. This advantageis brought about through a novel arrangement of the refrigerating members, the brine solution containers being arranged within the display space so that 9.

thermo-siphon effect is obtained for the continuous circulation of the brine solution without mechanical means, and the refrigerant tubes are located in the upper portions of, the brine liquid containers in order to obtain the greatest cooling elfect possible.

One of the prime advantages in this invention is in the large reduction of expense for manufacture, coils, turn bends and excessive piping being eliminated in the structure as herewith described and claimed, a minimum number of straight pipes or tubes being required, which are easily welded and connected together making a solid continuous pipe throughout.

It is to be understood that substitutions and alterations may be made in the above dis closure within the scope of the appended claims without affecting the merits of this invention.

W hat I claim is 1- 1. A refrigerator having a storage chamber, a device for cooling the chamber consisting of a plurality of outer containers arranged therein for holding a brine solution and for providing a continuous circulation of brine solution therebetween, refrigerant tubes extending through the containers, means for forming a thermo-siphon effect for maintaining a continuous circulation of brine liquid.

2. A refrigerator having a storage chamber, a device for cooling the chamber consisting of a plurality of outer containers arranged therein for holding a brine solution, refrigerant tubes extending through the containers, means for forming a thermo-siphon efi'ect for maintaining a continuous circulation of brine liquid, consisting of members for bringing the lower portions of one end of the containers in open communication with each other so that the cold brine solution will flow downward from the upper container to the lower containers and out from the opposite end of the containers upwardly through members arranged in open communication with the upper portions of said opposite ends of the containers, thereby forming a continuous flow of the brine solution due to the fall 8f the cool brine andthe rise of the warm rme.

a plurality of outer containers arranged therein for holding a brine solution and for providing a continuous circulation of brine solution therebetween, refrigerant tubes ex tending through the containers, means for forming a thermo-siphon effect for maintaining a continuous circulation of brine liquid,

means for allowing for the expansion and contraction of the refrigerant tubes.

4. A refrigerator having a storage chamber, a device for cooling the chamber consisting of a plurality of outer containers ar- 3. Arefrigeratorhavinga storage chamber, 7 a device for cooling the chamber consisting of ranged therein for holding a brine solution and for providing a continuous circulation of brine solution therebetween, refrigerant tubes extending through the containers, means for forming a thermo-siphon effect for maintaining a continuous circulation of brine liquid, means for allowing for the expansion and contraction of the refrigerant tubes, consisting of suitably formed head portions for the ends of the brine solution containers, an opening in the head portions for slidably re ceiving the refrigerant tubes.

5. A refrigerator having a storage chamber, a device for cooling the chamber consisting of a plurality of outer containers arranged therein for holding a brine solution and for providing a continuous circulation of brine solution therebetween, refrigerant tubes extending through the containers, means for forming a thermo-siphon effect for maintaining a continuous circulation of brine liquid, means for allowing for the expansion and contraction of the refrigerant tubes, consisting of suitably formed head portions for the ends of the brine solution containers, an opening in the head portions for slidably receiving'the refrigerant tubes, a packing gland loosely mounted on the refrigerant tubes for cooperating with the head portion. I

6. A refrigerator having a storage chamher, a device for cooling the chamber consisting of a plurality of outer containers arranged therein for holding a brine solution and for providing a continuouscirculation of brine solution therebetween, refrigerant tubes extending through the containers,

means for forming a thermo-siphon effect for maintaining a continuous circulation of brine liquid, means for allowing for the expansion and contraction of the refrigerant tubes, con sisting of suitably formed head portions for the ends of the brine solution containers, an opening in the head portions for slidably receiving the refrigerant tubes, a packing gland loosely mounted on the refrigerant tubes for cooperating with the head portions, the packing gland being fastened to the head end portion in some suitable manner.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT TROJAHN.

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