US2187913A - Refrigerated container - Google Patents

Description

Jam 3, 1 c. E. QUINN 2,187,913 I REFRIGERATED CONTAINER, 7

Filed Jan. 12 .4959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (Q H INVENTQR. Clara E Q mn A ORNEYS BY I I Q Jmzzmuo. QEQ m 2,187,913

REFRIGERATED CONTAINER Filed Jan. 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIOR. Clara 4-. Q nn ATTORNEY Jan. 23,1940. c. a. QUINN 2,187,913

I REFRIGERATED CONTAINER Filed Jan. 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet .s

INVENTOR.

C'lamE i n BY in v rown; v

Jan. 23, 1940. 5, 5 m 2,187,913

REFRIGERATED CONTAINER Filed Jan. 12, 1939 4 Sheigs-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. 'CIGI'GEQu hQ Patented Jan. 23, 1940 Clara E. Quinn, St. Petersburg, Fla., assignor to Broquinda, Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.,-a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1939, sci-m n 250,478

comma (Cl. (rs-91.5 r

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerated containers such as railroad cars, truck bodies, and the so-called L. C. L., or less than carload lot, containers as used on railroads.

s An important object of this invention is to provide a complete self-contained unit of thisv nature. Y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a refrigerated container of this type 10 particularly adapted to employ solid carbon dioxide as the primary refrigerant although other primary sources of refrigeration can be used.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a refrigeration system for containers 15 of this type which is capable of automatic operation to maintain desired temperatures therein. l

These and many other objects as will appear 5 80 sectional view therethrough;

Figure 3 is. a verticaL. transverse, crosssectional view throughthe primary and secondary. refrigerant, container in one suitable form; s

Figure 4 is adiagrammatic view of the struc- 85 ture by means of which carbon dioxide gas when solid carbon dioxide is used as the'primary refrigerant is employed to take advantage of its refrigerating and insulating properties before it is discharged to the atmosphere; 40 Figure 5 is a plan view of the control box for the refrigerated container;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 showing a modification in the construction; and 4a Figure '1 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view through the structure of Figure 6.

A large volume of perishable products is transmitted on the railways, in trucks and other conveyances by means of sealed containers which io'have become designated by the abbreviation.

L. C. L. These containers are usually packed at the sources of the material, shipped therein, loaded on flat cars or the like, shipped to the nearest distributing point, andthen either are ll unpacked there or unloaded and transported to their ultimate destination. Heretofore of this type has been developedwherein the refrigeration system is adapted to and capable of use with such containers. The general purpose of this invention is to provide at the same time as simple a refrigeration system attainable'which will be fully self-contained, easily prepared for use, and efficient and dependable for maintaining a desired minimum temperature therein.

In the form of the. invention illustrated in the drawings the portable container is more or less diagrammatically illustrated as comprising an outer shell I which may be of metal, an inner shell 2 which may be of metal or other suitable material, and an interposed heat insulating lining 'or shell} of any suitable material, such'as rock wool, cork in its many forms, and the like. These shells. are united into a strong durable container which is provided with one or more openings conveniently closed by doors 5 and .5 through 3 which access to the interior of the container is 'possible'. As illustrated at one end of the container towards the top thereof, there'is provided a suitable supporting structure 6 which has been illustrated as a wooden framing. Supported therein is a double wall container of metal com-- prising an outer shell l and an inner shell 8 united to form a closed or sealed space. As illustrated' in Figure 3 this combined shell may have an-upwardly extending skirt 8' which as illustrated in Figure 2 cooperates with an opening in the top of the container which is closed by means of a removable closure member 9 in turn protected by a coverit hingedly mounted at it. The space between the shells I and O is divided. as illustrated for example in Figure 3, by means, of a helical partition l2 formed of a strip of metal no fullii satisfactory method of refrigerating containers arranged so that the high point of the partition is adjacent the return connections 20 and 25 and its lower terminal'end is positioned adjacent the supplyconnections II and. v

As illustrated in Figure 2 the supply connections "and il extend to the heat exchange coils throughwhich-a liquid secondary refrigerant circulates by thermosyphonic action. There is one of these at each side of the container near the top thereof as will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2. The heat exchange cell for the connection It is shown in full detail in Figure 2. It is connected by means of a coupling II to the connection and is provided asillustrated with a pair of branches l8 and I! which extend horizontally along the container to the far end thereof where these branches reunite into a single return line II which is connected through a control valve with the return connection 2|. As shown in Figure 2 the branches are provided with a series of metal flns l2 which may bein the form of discs in heat conducting relation with the branch pipes which are, of course, of metal, and extending into the space to increase the heat absorption area of those pipes.

-As shown in Figure l, the control handle 2i for the valve ll extends into a control box 22 mounted on the side of the container at a con--. venient point for access thereto. The connection i4 in a similar manner is provided with finned branches which unite into the return line 2| connected through the valve 24 to the return connection 25. The valve 2| is operated or controlled by means of a thermostatic device 21 which is connected to the valve by means of a Bourdon wire 28. The valve 24 is one of a number of suitable and well known forms of valves adapted to operation by means of a main transmitting member such as the Bourdon wire 26. The thermostatic device extends to the control box 22 and terminates at the adjustable thermostatic device 28. The pointer of this device may be set at any desired temperature and the valve 24 will be adjusted by the thermostatic device 21 which is exposed to the temperature conditions within the container. The thermostatic device 21 likewise may be any one of a number I which receives theprimary refrigerant I. The

connection 3| has, attached thereto a l' 24 provided with the branches 2| and 2|, see also Fig 4. Inthe branch 3| is a hand valve 3|, to

which isconnect'ed a coil I1 positioned in any suitable manner, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2,'whic h coil terminates in a discharge connection 3| to the atmosphere. The branch 3| is likewise provided with a manual control valve 4| and connects to a pipe 4i which extends into the insulation 3 of the container as illustrated inl 'lgure2. Thisextensionfl'opensintothe space between the shells. i and 2 and may extend toseversi sides th reof. the illustration in 1'18- ure2beinginillustratlvesense. Asisclean fromr'igure 2, thehes'texchsngecoilsnndthe I gutters are supported and protected bya'suitable grillwork II which is preferably-made of The double wall container is shown provided with a modified partition wall ill: in Figures6and'7. lnthiscaseinsteadofempioy nsa helically formed strip the partition wall consists of a series of plates or sheetl "a alternately inclined in oppositedirections and each is pro-- vided on its low side with an opening l2b, as is clear from these figures. 4

In the operation of the apparatusthe space between the shells I and and the heat exchange "coilsis fllledwith anyone ofanumberoi'suitable and known liquids which may act as secondary refrigerants and which are particularly adapted to thermosyphonic circulation'by reason of'diifsrences in temperature existing in noperated parts thereof. The space within the inner shell 8 is charged with blocks of solid refrigerants, such as water ice, but preferably solid carbon'dioxide.

When the system is in operation the valves 24 and I! are open. Valve I! may be adjusted manually by 'means of the handle 2i to some point which will provide one-half or more of the the necessary flow of secondary refrigerant to maintain a desired temperature in the container. The thermostatic control 2| when suitably calibrated can then be set to provide the remainder of the required refrigeration by the proper adjustment of.the valve 24. As the surrounding temperature conditions fluctuate, as well as those within the container, the thermostatic device by reason of the adjustment thereof acts to properly control the valve 24 to maintain the desired temperature within the container. An important feature of this invention consists in the fact that the valves 19 and 24 are in the return lines rather than in the. supply line. It has been foundfrom experience that this position of the control valves ensures a more uniform temperature condition within the container, that is, the desired temperature is more accurately maintained. With the apparatus thus set the cold secondary refrigerant leaves the space between the shells and 8 from the bottom through the connections i3 and I4, circulates through the heat exchange coils, an'd returns in its warm condition, having amtracted heat from the main container through the top of this space through the connections 20 and 2!. It is dischar ed onto the helical partition l2 in heat exchange relation with the shell 8 and as it cools it gradually descends in a spiral path to the bottom of the space where it is discharged, as is clear from Figure 3, adjacent the supply lines l3 and 14.

At this point it may be noted that in the arrangements of Figures 6 and 7 a similar result occurs except that the secondary refrigerant flows back and forth by running down one partition l2a, falling through the opening l2b onto the next lower partition, and then flowing back to the other side around the inner container Thus it flows back and forth and gradually reaches the bottom of the container I adjacent the supply connections and I4. The arrows in Filure 6 clearly show the path of travel of the secondary refrigerant from the time the warm fluid enters through the connection 2| until it leaves through the connection l3.

In theoase of solid carbon dioxide as it sublirnes the gas generated is conducted through the connection 3| to the branches l6 and The amount of gas which moves through these branches is determined by the setting of thevalves 2| and 4|, respectively. The gas which goes through branch 3| circulates through the coil 21 to provide additional refrigeration for the space from the gas before it is discharged to waste through the outlet 2|. The portion of the gas going through the branch 3| is discharged between the shells I and 2 through 4| and serves as a cold blanket around the inner space. In addition, the. carbon dioxide gas, having a low specific heat, is a good heat insulator, thereby aiding to insulate the inner space from the outside.

It will .be seen by this arrangement that a fully self-contained refrigerating imit is provided for a portable container of the L. C. L. or equivalent types which may, for example, be a removable truck body which efiiciently operates I of the original solid carbon dioxide.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many changes in the details of construction and relative arrangement of the parts may be carried out without departure from the novel subject matter herein disclosed. It is not de sired, therefore, to be strictly limited by this disclosure but rather by the claims granted.

What I seek to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a portable refrigerating unit, the combi nation including a heat insulated cabinet, a double wall container supported within said cabinet and adapted to support a solid refrigerant in the inner container, supply and return connections for the space between said containers, a heat exchange coil exposed to the space within the cabinet and connected at its ends to the supply and return connections, a valve'in the return connection, thermostatic means mounted in the space and connected to said valve for operatin it, and means exterior of said cabinet for adjusting said thermostatic device to maintain a desired temperature within the container, said heat exchange coil being-supported near the top of said container along one side thereof and having a plurality of heatconducting flns mounted thereon. l

2. In a portable refrigerating unit, the combination including a heat insulated cabinet, a double wall container supported within said cabinet and adapted to support a solid'rei'rigerant in the inner container, supply and return connections for the space between said containers, a heat exchange coil exposed to the space within the cabinet and connected at its ends to the supply and. return connections, a valve in the return connection, means exterior of the cabinet for adjusting said valve, and a second coil con-l nected to the inner space of said double wall container mounted in the space.in the cabinet and having a discharge to the atmosphere.

3. In a portable refrigerating unit, the com.-

bination including a heat insulated cabinet, a double wall container supported within said ca b inet and adapted to support a solid refrigerant in the inner container, supply and return conadjusting said thermostatic device to adesiredtsmpersturewithinthscontsinmand a second coil connected to the inner space of said double wall container mounted in the space in the cabinet and having a discharge to the atmosphere.

4. A refrigerated L. C. L. container compris ing a heat insulated casing, a double wall container supported within said casing comprising a V I pair of nested shells, the inner shell being adapted to receive a solid refrigerant and the space between said shells a liquid secondary refrigerant, a pair of heat exchange coils connected to said space and arranged along a pair of opposite sides of said cabinet,'a valve in the return connection of each of said coils, one of said valves being accessible from the exterior of said cabinet for manual. adjustment, a thermostatic operator for the other of said valves mounted in said cabinet, and means for adjusting said thermostatic operator accessible from the exterior of said cabinet. I

5. In a portable refrigerating unit, the combi nation' including a heat insulated cabinet, a double wall container'supported within said cabinet and adapted to support a solid refrigerant in the inner container, supplyand return connections for the space between said containers,

a heat exchange coil exposed to the space with:

in the cabinet and connected at its ends to the supply and return connections, a valve in the return connection, said double wall container, supply and return connections and heat exchange coil forming a closed circulatory system for a secondary refrigerant, and meansin the space betweenthe double walls of said container for causing the secondary refrigerant to followa circuitous pathin passing from the return to the supply connections.

6. In a portable refrigerating unit, the combination including a heat insulated cabinet, a double wall container supported within said cabinet and adapted to support a solid refrigerant in the inner container, supply and return con necticns for the space between said containers, a heat exchange coil exposed to the space within the cabinet and connected at its ends to the supply and return connections, a valve in the return connection, said double wall container, sup

ply and return connections and heat exchange coil forming a closed circulatory system for a secondary refrigerant, and partitions mounted in the space between the double walls of said container to cause the secondary refrigerant to flow in contact with the inner of said double cnaasnqonm. u

Images