USRE21710E - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1941. H. F. SMITH REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 19, 1936 I INVENTOR. flame) F5011!- M-Mm.

Hi6 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 4, 1941. H. F. SMITH 21,710

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Original Filed Aug. 19, 1956 2 Shets-Shget 2 #4227 F. Syn-ll.

HIS ATTORNEYS,

Reissued Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Harry F. Smith, Lexington, Ohio, asslgnor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,085,172, 'dated June 29, 1937, Se-

rial No. 96,823, August 19, 1936. Application for reissue June 20, 1939, Serial No.. 280,130

11 Claims.

preventing condensate water ordinarily flowing normally ineffective and rendered effective by an accumulation of condensate water therein.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly diagrammatic, showing a refrigerating apparatus having the present invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line Of Fig. 2. I K

' Referring to the drawings, for illustrating the present invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 thereof a room cooling apparatus housed within a cabinet generally represented by the reference character to. Cabinet Ill has a closed refrigerating system mounted therein and the system includes an evaporator II having a gaseous refrigerant conduit 12 and a liquid refrigerant conduit l3 connecting same to a refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit. The refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit includes a compressor II and an electric motor l5 operatively connected to the compressor through suitable belt and pulley connections. condenser Hi to which conduit I3 is connected and this condenser may be cooled in any desirable or well-known manner. In the present showing of the apparatus a water flow circuit is employed to cool the condenser l6 and this circuit includes a coil I! mounted in the compartment motor I8 is mounted in the uppermost portion of cabinet in. This fan I8 is adapted to draw The unit also includes a housing the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit and is utilized to remove heat of compression from the compartment. The refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit is preferably mounted upon a base which is suspendingly supported in the lower compartment of the cabinet. Evaporator H is disposed horizontally within cabinet Ill intermediate the top and bottom thereof. A fan l8 operatively connected to-an electric air into cabinet I0, through suitable louvres or openings 2| prvided in a side wall thereof, and to force the air over evaporator II where it is 15 chilled or cooled by the refrigerating eifect produced by the evaporator. The cooled air is caused to flow by fan l8 out of the cabinet or casing l0 into the room to be cooled through openings 22 provided in the'top wall of cabinet In. In 0001- ing air passing thereover the evaporator I I withdraws moisture from the air and a pan or receptacle 24 is mounted below the evaporator to catch moisture dripping therefrom. A pipe 25 is connected to pan. 24 and extends downwardly therefrom to convey, by gravity flow, the condensate water caught in pan 24 to a suitable drain source. Liquid refrigerant flowing from the condenser I8 of the refrigerating system into evaporator II is controlled by an expansion valve 26. Valve 30 '26 has a pipe connection 21 with a thermostat sponsive to pressures in the low side of the re- 40 frigerating system. Switch 3| is interposed in the one power line of the pair 34 and 35 thereof leading to motor I5. A thermal overload switch 36 of any suitable or conventional design is interposed in the power line 35 leading to motor l5 and is adapted'to break or open the circuit to the motor when the resistance to flow of electric current through the motor increases to an abnormal degree to prevent so-called burning of the motor under heavy loads. A magnetic valve 31 is inter- 59 posed in the refrigerant conduit I3 of the closed refrigerating system and is electrically connected by wires 38 and 38 .to a thermostatic switch 4| and to the power lines 34 and 35. Switch 4| is adapted to be positioned in the room to be expansion valve 26. The switch 4i may also controloperation of motor l9 and consequently fan i8 so that when valve 31 is opened the fan creates a circulation of air over the evaporator and into the room to be cooled. The apparatus thus far described is conventional and .wellknown to those skilledin the art and no further or detailed description thereof is believed necessary herein.

Since my invention is directed to an'improved apparatus of the type described and pertains to the stopping of the apparatus when certain abnormal or undesirable conditions occur during operation thereof I will now describe this improved system, While the moisture removed from the air cooled by evaporator ll of the refriger-- ating system is adapted to drip from the evaporator into the pan or receptacle I4 and flow by gravity through pipe 25 to a drain such pipes or drains quite frequently get stopped up or become clogged and prevent the flow of water therethrough. If the refrigerating system is permitted to continue operation after the drain becomes ineffective for carrying d'rip water ofcondensation away from the cabinet of the refrigerating apparatus, an abnormal condition occurs in that drip water accumulates in the drip pan or receptacle 24 and will overflow same. The drip water upon overflowing the pan 24 is likely to flow on or into the electric motor l of the refrigerant liquei'ying and circulating unit, or into other electrical elements of the apparatus disposed below pan 24, and will cause short-circuiting or burning of parts of the motor or of the other electrical elei to a point near that to cause overflow of the pan,

render the refrigerating system inoperative to ceasecooling of the air so as to indicate to the user or those present in the room being cooled that some abnormal conditionfhas occured that must be corrected before the apparatus will function to produce the desired results. Such a safety device may be placed directly in the pan 24. if

desired, but to simplify the construction of a device of this type and to insure its operation only at the timerequired I'prefer to mount the device outside the pan 24. Therefore the device disclosed in the present disclosure comprises an elecits upper end soldered to the upper metal washer 55 and has its other end soldered or otherwise,

tric element generally represented by the reference character 45 and having an outer threaded metal terminal 41 insulated by an insulation or the like plug 48 from a centrally located terminal 49. The plug 4! is hollow and has metal members 5| extending through its side-wail into contact with the terminal 41. The inner ends of the metal members 5| are bent as at 52 to form a support or abutment for a coil spring 53. Spring 53 surrounds a metal rod 54 and is confined within the hollowed out portion of plug 48 between cup-like metal washers 55 the upper one of which is secured under a 'head 56 formed on rod 54. A wire 51 coiled around rod 54' has suitably secured to the lower washer 55 which lies in contact with the ends 82 of members 5|. It

will therefore be seen that the threaded metal outer terminal 41 is conductively connected with the head 56 of rod 54 through the metal pieces 5|, lower washer 55, wire 51 and the collar surrounding the upper end of rod 54. The enlarged lower end of element 46 has a plate-like washer of insulating material if secured thereto by a.

metal collar 52 crimped over a shoulder formed on the element 46 to close the hollowed out or open-ended portion thereof. This collar 62 is provided with a plurality of depending legs 83 which are utilized for resiliently engaging the outer upper end of pipe 45 to removably secure the element 46 thereto. A pair of vertically disposed plates 54 and 55 have an upper shoulder portion 66 thereof extended through the insulating washer 8i and secured thereto by pins 61. The pair of plates 54 and 55 are held in spaced apart relation by a stud 59 which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto intermediate the top and bottom portions thereof. There is a rotatable member .I l below stud 69 which is threaded at one of its ends into the plate 65 and has its other end extended through a suitable opening provided in plate 54. The member H is split as at I2 for a purpose to be presently described. The lower end of'rod 54 is bent outwardly and around against itself as at 13 to form an eye portion having a straight shank part 14 extending horizontally between the plates 64 and A strip of paper 15, preferably of a character that is soft and will readily absorb water to thus cause same to lose its tensile strength so as to be easily torn such, for example, as ordinary newspaper or thin blotting paper, has its one end I6 coiled in overlapping relation around the stud 69 so as to hold this end against rotation or movement relative to stud 59, The strip of paper 15 is then'pass'ed through the eye portion formed by rod 54 while the rod is held in a position such as shown in the drawings and the paper is tightly stretched between the stud 69 and shank part 14 of rod 54 to separate the head 55 formed on rod 54 from the terminal 49. The opposite end H of paper strip 15 is then placed in the slot 12 of member H and member H is threaded into plate 55. Rotation of member H causes the paper adjacent the end 11 thereof to be wound around the member II to thereby tightly stretch the paper strip at points intermediate its ends I5 and 11.

The paper strip 15 while being maintained in the stretched position shown in the drawings holds the rod 54 in a downward position against the tension of spring 53 which is compressed between the washers 55.

electrical socket II is threaded upon the threaded terminal 41 of element 46 and is provided with terminals 82 and I: having wires 84 and I5 repectively connected to and extending therefrom. Wire 84 is connected in parallel circuit relation with the motor l5 of the refrigerating system by Another element in the form of a conventional .4

being secured to the power line 34 at a point be- 'termediate its connection with the power line 35 and its connection with element or socket II, to complete the apparatus.

In the normal operation of the apparatus the evaporator H produces a refrigerating eflect and cools air of the room in which the apparatus is located which air is circulated thereover by operation of fan H. The switch 3i controls the starting and stopping of motor I5 to maintain the evaporator between predetermined temperatures. The thermostat switch 4! controls the flow of liquid refrigerant to the expansion valve 26 and consequently evaporator H in response to temperature conditions existing in the room. Moisture removed from the air during cooling thereof drips from the evaporator l I into the pan or receptacle 24 and this drip water normally flows to the sewer through the drain pipe 25. In the ordinary installation of this type should the drain pipe become stopped up or clogged with foreign matter the drip water would overflow'the pan 24 upon continued operation of the refrigerating system and would flow on or into the motor l5 or on, other electrical elements disposed below the pan. The overflow .or drip water may cause the motor or other electrical elements to be 'short-circuited and burned beyond repair and in addition, this water flows upon and over the floor of the room in which the apparatus is located. However, should water accumulating in the drip pan 24 of the present apparatus rise to an abnormal height this water will also rise the same height in the pipe 45, extending upwardly from the drain pipe 25, and will contact and wet the paper strip 15 of the safety device. The water upon soaking the paper 15 destroys its tensile strength and causes same to tear or break. Upon breaking of the paper strip I5 coil spring 53 in the safety device disclosed forces rod 54 upwardly and the head 55 formed thereon therefore moves into engagement with the terminal 49 in the plug element 46. Obviously the electric circuit through terminals 49, 83, wire 84, terminals 41, 40 82 and wire 85 is completed across the power lines 34 and 35 between the thermal overload protecting switch 36 and motor I5. Current flowing the resistance unit 85 interposed therein and the 4 unit 86 thereby creates an abnormal electrical load which is thrown upon or through the thermal overload protector 36 and heats same to cause it to trip or open the motor circuit through power lines 34 and 35. Opening of the power lines 34 and 35 obviously breaks the circuit to motor I and switch 3| is thereby no longer effective to complete the circuit, thus motor 5 and culating unit is rendered inoperative. The temperature of the room in which the apparatus is located will increase above its normal high temperature limit to thus indicate that the refrigeratlng system is inoperative. By rendering the refrigerating system inoperative in this manner further condensation of moisture on and flow of drip water from evaporator I i into pan 24 is prevented and overflow of this pan is thereby eliminated. The system will, of course, remain inoperative until the drain pipe 25 has been opened or cleaned out to convey drip water from the apparatus. After the drain pipe 25 has been opened or cleaned out the paper strip I5 in the new strip so that the terminals 41 and 43 of the safety device will be maintained in spaced apart relation to keep the circuit through wires 34 and 35 open. The thermal overload switch 35 after having been permitted to cool is reset to complete the electric circuit therethrough from power lines through this completed circuit must pass through consequently the refrigerant liquefylng and cirelement 45 of the safety device is replaced by a 34 and 35 to motor I! and switch 3| to again render the apparatus operative.

It is to be understood that in a system where the thermal overload switch 35 is not employed the safety device comprising the element 45 and SI may be of a modified construction and arrangement whereby the circuit from the power lines 34 and 35 may be extended through the device and the device will normally complete thisthe specific installation shown nor to the specific type or construction of safety device disclosed as will be apparent from the appended claims.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an improved apparatus of the type adapted to cool and circulate air within a room to be cooled and that the apparatus by having the'safety device described incorporated therein overcomes certain difficulties or objections encountered in the use and operation of conventional apparatuses of this type. The safety device of -my improved apparatus is normally ineffective and rendered effective to cause inoperativeness of the refrigerating system automatically by a predetermined accumulation of drip water in the water receptacle. The safety device is inexpensive, simple and can be readily reset after the paper strip therein has been torn or broken by being wetted by the drip water. By incorporating the safetydevice in the apparatus an improved refrigerating system is provided in that the device'cooperates with other safety devices and elements in the system to render the system operative at all times except when an abnormal condition occurs which is likely to cause consid- ,erating system I do not wish to be restricted to erable damage to the system or to the 'buildingin which the system is installed.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it "is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow. l

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for circulating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for col-' lecting condensate water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from said apparatus, and normally ineffective means ren-- dered effective automatically in response to a predetermined accumulation of water in said collecting and conveying means for rendering said lecting and conveying means for rendering said normally ineffective means effective.

culating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidiflcation of the air, means for col- 4. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for circulating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidification of the air, means ior collecting condensate water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from saidapparatus, said circulating means including a motor and an electric circuit leading thereto, means interposed in said electric circuit for controlling operation of said motor, a switch interposed in said electric circuit between said control means and said motor, and means responsive to a predetermined accumulation of water in said collecting and conveying means for actuating said switch to render said motor inoperative.

5. In combination, "an apparatus including an element which dehumidifles air, meansv for circulating a medium through said element to cause said dehumiditlcation of the air, means for collecting condensate water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from said apparatus, said circulating means including a motor and an electric circuit leading I thereto, means interposed in said electric circuit for controlling operation of said motor,a normally closed thermal overload means interposed in said electric circuit, a switch interposed in said electric circuit between said thermal overload means and said motor, and means responsive to a predetermined accumulation of water in said collecting and conveying means for actuating said switch to cause opening of said normally closed thermal overload means to thereby render said motor inoperative.

6. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for circulating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidiflcation of the air, means for collecting condensate water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from said apparatus, said circulating -means including a motor and an electric circuit leading thereto, means interposed in said electric circuit for controlling operation of said motor, a normally closed thermal overload means interposed in said electric circuit, a normally open switch interposed in said electric circuit between said thermal overload means and said motor, and means responsive to a predetermined accumulation of waterin said collecting and conveying means for closing said normally open switch to cause opening of said normally closed thermal overload means to thereby render said motor inoperative.

7. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidines air', means for circulating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidiflcation ofthe air, means for col- 3. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for cirmeans interposed in said electric circuit for controlling operation of said motor, a normally closed thermal overload means interposed in said elecfltric circuit, a switch interposed in said electric circuit between said thermal overload means and said motor, a resistance unit interposed in said electric circuit between said switch and said thermal overload means, and means responsive to a predetermined accumulation of water in said collecting and conveying means for actuating said switch to energize said resistance unit and cause opening'ot said normally closed thermal overload means to thereby render said motor inoperativel 8. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for circulating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidiflcation of the air, means for collecting condensate water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from said apparatus, saidcirculating means including a motor and an electric circuit leading thereto, means interposed in said electric circuit for controlling operation of said motor, a normally closed thermal overload means interposed in said electric circuit, a normally open switch interposed in said electric circuit between said thermal overload means and said motor, a resistance unit interposed in said electric circuit between' said switch and said, thermal overload means, and means responsive to a predetermined accumulation of water in said collecting and conveying means for closing said normally open switch to energize said resistance unit and cause opening 01 said normally closed thermal overload means to thereby render said motor inoperative.

9. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for cir culating a, medium through said element to cause said dehumidiflcati'on of th air, means for collecting condensate water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from said apparatus, and normally 'inefiective means rendered efiective automatically in response to a predetermined accumulation of water in said collecting and conveying means for preventing further accumulation of condensate water in said collecting and conveying means above said .predetermined accumulated amount thereof.

10. In combination, an apparatus including an element which dehumidifies air, means for circu-- lating a medium through said element to cause said dehumidiflcation of the air, means for collecting condensate'water from said element and for normally conveying the water away from said apparatus, and normally ineffective means 1 means above said predetermined accumulated amount thereof.

1-1.. An air conditioning apparatus comprising an air cooling unit, a refrigerant circulating unit connected to said cooling unit, collecting means for collecting condensate from said air cooling unit, and means preventing the operation of said circulating unit upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of liquid in said collecting 'means.

HARRY F. SMITH.

55 rendered effective automaticallylin response to

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