US2694906A - Refrigerating apparatus having a hydrator receptacle - Google Patents

Description

N. A. DIDION Nov. 23, 1954 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS HAVING AHYDRATOR RECEPTACLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. MM A. .Dw/wv.

N. A. DlDlON Nov. 23, 1954 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS HAVING A HYDRATOR RECEPTACLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. M44 A @1040.

N. A. DIDION Nov. 23, 1954 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS HAVING A HYDRATOR RECEPTACLE Filed D66. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Min. 4. DID/ON.

7nd, t yak United States Patent F REFRIGERATING APPARATUS HAVING A HYDRATQR RECEPTACLE Nolan A. Didion, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, ()hio, a corporation of Delaware Application December s, 1951 Serial No. 259,937

6 Claims. or. 62-89) The present invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to an arrangement of associating a hydrator receptacle with cold circulating air in a compartment of a refrigerator cabinet.

It has become common practice in the household refrigerator art to locate a substantially closed receptacle within the food storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet so that the receptacle serves as a hydrator wherein fresh vegetables are stored. Such a receptacle substantially isolates the vegetables from the dry cool air circulating in the refrigerator and maintains the vegetables in a crisp and fresh condition over long periods of time. Some difliculty has been experienced in mounting a hydrator receptacle in the storage compartment of a refrig erator so that it would not interefere with the regular food supporting shelves therein and so that it could be freely and easily moved relative thereto partially out of the compartment for access to its interior. My invention contemplates the mounting of a hydrator in the path of air circulating in a food storage compartment or chamber of a refrigerator cabinet in such a manner as to be readily accessible when the compartment door is opened and so as to eliminate difiiculties heretofore encountered in the manipulation thereof. v

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting of a hydrator receptacle for association with air circulating in a food storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet.

Another object of my invention is to mount a hydrator receptacle on the inner side of a food storage compartment door of a refrigerator so as to be swingable therewith and relative thereto when access to its interior is desired.

A further object of my invention is to pivotally mount a hydrator receptacle on a food storage compartment or chamber door of a refrigerator cabinet particularly in a recessed portion of the door so that the receptacle normally lies along and extends substantially parallel with the inner face of therecessed portion of the door, is vertically swingable' into a substantially horizontal position for facilitating access to the interior thereof and is removable from the door.

A still further and more specific object of my invention is to pivotally mount a hydrator assembly comprising a receptacle and a cover or lid therefore upon the inner face of a door affording access to the interior of a food storage compartment of a refrigerator whereby when the compartment door is opened and the hydrator is moved into a horizontal position relative to the door, its cover or lid forms a ledge or support, at the front of the cabinet in close proximity to food supporting shelves in the storage compartment, for the reception of articles from the compartment or from shelves therein during the act of rearranging articles in the compartment and While removing articles therefrom or placing additional articles therein. I v

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 invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a' refrigerator having my invention embodied therein; c

Fig; 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1 and is taken on the line 2- 2thereof; I M c Fig. 3 is a view of the refrigerator door looking to- 2,694,906 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 ward the inner side thereof and showing a hydrator assembly mounted thereon;

.Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the refrigerator with the food storage com artment door thereof in open position and showing the hydrator assembly moved into a horizontal position relative to the door; v

.Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the pivotal mounting of the hydrator assembly on the food compartment;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on theline 66 of Fig. 3 showing a gasket seal on the food compartment door;

. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken .on theline 77 of Fig. 5 showing the pivotal mounting and a stop for the hydrator assembly;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4 showing a means of venting the interior of the hydrator; and V Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustrationof a closed refrigerating system associated with the refrigerator disclosed in Fig. 1. g v

Referring to the drawings, wherein my invention is illustrated, I show in Fig, lthereof a refrigerator cabinet ltl of usual construction having inner. and outer metal shells orpanels 11 and 12 respectively (see Figs. 2 and 4) defining or forming walls of a food storage compartment orchamber 13 provided with a plurality of verticallyspaced apartfood supporting shelves 14, anaccess opening and adoor 15 for normally closing the food compartment opening. Any suitable or desirable insulatingmaterial 16 may be disposed between the shells orpanels 11 and 12 to heat-insulate thefood compartment 13. The outer cabinet shell orpanel 12 may extend downwardly beyond compartment 13' and form walls of a machine compartment, in which a refrigerant translating device or condensing unit portion of a closed refrigerating system is located, as is conventional in the art.Compartment 13 may have mounted therein a freezing cooling portion of the refrigerating system, for providing an insulated freezing or frozen food storage zone or closedchamber 18 therein, and also a cooling element portion of the refrigerating system for chilling the air incompartment 13 and creating convectron currents therein. Door 15' ofcompartment 13 is hinged tocabinet 10 for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto and is preferably provided with a recess in its inner face.Door 15 includes anouter metal pan 21 and aninner panel 22 having insulation, such as theinsulating material 16, therebetween. The door pans orpanels 21 and 22 are secured together at their edges in any suitable or conventional manner (see Fig.

and agasket 23 is located therebetween for engaging the front ofcabinet 10 to normally seal thecompartment 13 about its access opening. The inner door panel 221s shaped to provide a recess in the'inner face of the door for a purpose to be presently described.

The closed refrigerating systemassoc'iated withcabinet 10 is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawngs and includes a refrigerant translating device comprlsmg a motor-compressor 26, acondenser 27 and afan 28 driven by anelectric motor 29 for circulating air over thecondenser 27. The system also includes a first refrigerant evaporating portion or element 31 in the form of a conduit coil wrapped around a metal box-like container 32. This container is surrounded with insulating material and has a cover thereoverand forms the freezing zone orchamber 18 inthe lower portion offood compartment 13. The closed refrigerating system furthermore includes a secondrefrigerant evaporating portion orcooling element 33 in the form of a serpentine conduit coil secured to and extending along ametal plate 34 which is disposed in the upper rear portion of compartment 13 (see Fig. 2). While I have described the conduit coils as being separate from, secured to and extending aroundcontainer 32 and overplate 34, it is to be understood that the refrigerant evaporating condu ts may be provided by forming passageways in plates andsealing the plates to one another as is now common in the sheet metal evaporator art. Pipes or conduits connect the various elements of the refrigerating system in closed circuit relation. For example, refrigerant compressed in the motor-compressor 26 is directed into thecondenser 27, byconduit 36, wherein the compressed refrigerant is cooled, with air circulated thereover byfan 28, and condensed or liquefied. Apipe 37 leading fromcondenser 27 directs liquid refrigerant into the evaporator or element 31, through arestrictor 38, where some of the liquid refrigerant expands or evaporates, upon absorbing heat from the zone orchamber 18. Liquid refrigerant flows, by way ofpipe 39, from evaporator 31 into thecooling element 33 where further evaporation thereof takes place. Evaporated or gaseous refrigerant flows fromelement 33 back to the motor-compressor 26 through a pipe or conduit 41 where it is recompressed, recondensed, and recirculated throughout the closed system. A thermally operated electric switch 42, having a thermostat bulb 43 in contact With the outlet conduit ofevaporator 33 for actuating the switch, is provided for controlling operation of the motor-compressor 26 andfan motor 29 in response to the temperature ofplate 34. Switch 42 is interposed in suitable electric power lines as is conventional in the art. Evaporator orcooling element 33 is normally maintained, by the refrigerant translating portion of the closed refrigerating system, at a temperature below 32 F. whereby it chills and creates convection currents of air infood compartment 13 for cooling the same.

Since the temperature ofcooling element 33 is normally below 32 E, it tends to withdraw moisture from the air incompartment 13 and to deposit this moisture thereon. This dries the air and consequently air coming into contact with exposed or uncovered foods incompartment 13 will have a tendency to remove moisture from the foods. It has been found that moisture should not be rapidly withdrawn from fresh green vegetables and the like if they are to be properly preserved over long periods of time. For this reason, a special receptacle commonly referred to as a hydrator has been provided in refrigerators of the type disclosed for the storage of fresh green vegetables. A vegetable storage hydrator may be vented or may have a restricted flow of refrigerated air therein and therefrom. Such a venting or restricted air flow retards the growth of molds, yeast or bacteria in a hydrator and maintains vegetables stored therein green, fresh and crisp over long periods of time.

In the present disclosure, theinner panel 22 offood compartment door 15 is flared or bent outwardly as at 51 and bent or turned inwardly as at 52 to provide a recess in the inner face ofdoor 15 lined by thewall portion 53 ofpanel 22. Any desired number of shelves or supports 54 may be located within the recessed portion ofdoor 15 for supporting various food products on the door.door 15 contains a hydrator constructed and arranged to render the same readily accessible. The hydrator assembly comprises wall forming members one of which is a cover member while the other is a sheet metal framelikestructure forming walls 61 of ahydrator receptacle 62 provided with ahandle 63. Thefront wall 64 ofreceptacle 62 may be formed of glass or any suitable and now well-known transparent molded plastic material and is secured to the metal frame-like walls 61 by intersectingpartitions 66, of any desired number.Partitions 66 abut against the receptaclefront wall 64 and have their ends welded or otherwise suitably attached to the walls 61 (see Fig. 8). The hydrator assembly has at least a portion thereof disposed in the recess ofdoor 15 and normally lies flat along or extends in substantially parallel relation to theWall 53 of the recessed inner face ofdoor 15. Thepartitions 66 divide the interior of the hydrator receptacle into a plurality of compartments for storing certain types of vegetables or the like, in segregated form. Since thefront wall 64 is formed of clear glass or transparent plastic material, the contents ofhydrator receptacle 62 can be readily viewed while in its normal position relative tofood compartment 15.Hydrator receptacle 62 has an access opening opposite itstransparent wall 64, which opening is normally closed by a cover member or lid or by pairs thereof 68 (see Figs. 2, 4 and These cover members orlids 68 are also formed of clear glass or transparent molded plastic material and are hinged to the frame-like wall structure 61 as by suitable hinges 69 (see Figs. 2 and 5). Thelids 68 One section of the recessed portion of normally lie adjacent to and extend in substantially parallel relation with theback wall 53 of the recess indoor 15.

In order to mount the hydrator assembly orreceptacle 62 for vertical swinging movement relative to door 15, I provide a pair of pivot pins 71 each formed on aplate 72 which plates are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of the return bent part orwall 52 of the inner door panel 22 (see Figs. 5 and 7) at each side of the depression therein indoor 15. Each pin 71 projects inwardly from theopposed wall portions 52 of the depression indoor 15 and is received in tracks 74 formed by a depression in eachside wall 61 of the metal frame-like structure of the hydrator. The tracks 74 each include astraight portion 76, which is open at the bottom thereof, and an offset or right angled closed end portion 77 (see Fig. 5) in which the pivot pins 71 are normally maintained. Thus, the hydrator receptacle is pivotally mounted for swinging the same relative todoor 15. In order to insure that the hydrator assembly, when moved relative to door 15 will not swing beyond a substantially horizontal position, I provide stop means therefor. This stop means includes a second air ofpins 81 each formed on aplate 82 which plates are also welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of the return bentwall part 52 of theinner panel 22 ofdoor 15 at each side of the depression therein (see Figs. 5 and 7). Eachstop pin 81 projects inwardly from theopposed wall portions 52 of the depression indoor 15 and is received in the arcuate shapedtrack 84, formed by a depression in eachside wall 61 of the frame-like structure of the hydrator. Eachtrack 84 includes astraight portion 86 which is open at the bottom thereof and anotherstraight portion 87 which connects with and is disposed at right angles to thestraight portion 86 and also connects with the arcuate shapedtrack part 84. Thestraight portions 87 oftracks 84 engage thepins 81 when the hydrator is swung relative todoor 15 and thereby form stops for supporting the hydrator assembly in a horizontal position. The normal position of the hydrator with respect todoor 15 is shown in full lines in Fig. 5 while its horizontal position relative to the door is shown in dot-dash lines in this same figure. Straightopen end portions 76 and 86 of thetracks 74 and 84 respectively are for the purpose of permitting detachment of the hydrator assembly fromdoor 15. Such removal of the hydrator can be carried out only while the hydrator assembly is in a horizontal position relative todoor 15 as shown in the dot-dash lines of Fig. 5 of the drawings. It will be noted from this showing that the hydrator may be raised to simultaneously move theportion 77 of tracks 74 andportions 87 oftracks 84 upwardly relative to thepins 71 and 81 respectively. Thereafter the hydrator may be pulled away fromdoor 15 by moving theportions 76 of tracks 74 andportions 86 oftracks 84 outwardly over thepins 71 and 81 respectively to effect detachment of the hydrator fromdoor 15.

Since a hydrator requires venting or only a restricted flow of cold air into the same, I have shown in Fig. 8 the method of venting the present assembly. Thepartitions 66 and particularly the partition which extends across thereceptacle 62 at the point where the opposed edges of lids orcover members 68 are located is terminated short of the top ofwall 61. Thus, the space between the edge ofpartition 66 and the lids orcover members 68 together with the space between the two opposed edges of themembers 68 as shown in Fig. 8 permit venting of the hydrator receptacle or a limited fiow of cool circulating air from the convection air currents created incompartment 13. Suitable or conventional spring tensioned latches, such as represented at 91 (see Fig. 2) may be provided for engaging and maintaining the lids orcover members 68 in closed position until such time as they are desired to be pivotally moved about their mounting hinges 69. It will be noted that at least a portion of the hydrator assembly is normally disposed within the recess ofdoor 15 and that a portion thereof projects outwardly of the inner face ofdoor 15. Such positioning of the hydrator assembly definitely locates the same in the path of convection air currents chilled and circulated incompartment 12, by thecooling element 33, so as to cool and properly preserve vegetables and the like in thehydrator receptacle 62. It will also be noted that thefood supporting shelves 14 withincompartment 12, opposite the hydrator carried ondoor 15,

are terminated short of the front ofcompartment 13 so that thehydrator assemblywillnot strike the same whendoor 15 is closed.

' In the use of the present apparatus,door 15 offood compartment 12 is opened to swing the hydrator receptacle into view wherebyits contents are clearly visible through thetransparent front 64 thereof. To open the hydrator receptacle 6)., bar 63' is-grasped by the hand and pulled forwardly or outwardly of the inner face ofdoor 15. This causes vertical movement ofreceptacle 62 about its pivotalimount-ing pins 71- whereupon walls oftracks 84 move over the stop pins 81 Such pivotal movement ofreceptacle 62 causes the same to swing downwardly'whereupon the one wall of straight portions 8 oftracks 84 engage the stop pins 8-1 to maintain the hydrator assembly'in' a substantially horizontal position. Byreferring to Figs. 4* and 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that while the hydrator assembly is in a horizontal position its cover members orlids 68 provide a support at the front ofcabinet 10 in close proximity toshelves 14. Articles from-the food storage compartment orchamber 13 may be placed on this support to facilitate the transference'of articles to and from the shelves or to receive articles from the food compartment or chamber during the act of rearranging articles therein. While in this horizontal position the transparentnormal front 64 of receptacle 62'becomes the bottom wall thereon. The access opening in the normal back of the receptacle is now at the top-thereofand' access to the interior ofhydratorreceptacle 62 isobtained by" releasing the spring latches 91 and raising the cover members orlids 68 about their pivot hinges 69. While the hydrator assembly is in its horizontal position, it may be detached fromdoor 15 in the manner hereinbefore described and carried over to a sink or table where vegetables are being prepared for placement in thereceptacle 62. After loading thereceptacle 62 it may be readily remounted upon thedoor 15 by reversing the operations described relative to its removal.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that I have provided an improved mounting of a hydrator assembly in association with air currents in a food storage compartment or chamber of a refrigerator cabinet. The improved mounting locates the hydrator in a convenient vicinity which, in addition to rendering it readily accessible, permits the same to provide or serve as a transfer ledge or support for the purposes described. Removability of the hydrator assembly from the door renders it, as well as its pocket in the depression of the food chamber or compartment door, easily cleanable. The normal front of hydrator receptacle being formed of transparent material permits a quick inventory of its contents prior to swinging the same down and without uncovering the receptacle access opening.

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 as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a household refrigerator of the type having walls defining a food storage compartment accessible through an opening in the front wall thereof, a door pivotally secured to the cabinet adjacent said compartment normally closing its opening, said door being constructed and formed to define a recess in its inner face, a refrigerating system associated with said refrigerator, said system including a cooling element disposed in said compartment and a refrigerant translating device, said device maintaining said cooling element below 32 F. for chilling and creating convection currents of air in said compartment and in the recessed portion of said door, a hydrator receptacle having at least a portion thereof disposed in the recess of said door and exposed to said air currents, said receptacle being provided with an access opening and a member carried thereby and movable relative thereto for substantially closing said receptacle access opening, means for pivotally mounting said receptacle upon said compartment door with its closure member normally adjacent to and extending in substantially parallel relation with the inner face of said door at said recessed portion thereof, and said receptacle being swingable about its pivotal mounting, when said door is opened, into a substantially horizontal position to render its closure member readily accessible for movement.

2. In a household refrigerator of the type having walls defining a food storage compartment accessible" through an opening in the front wall thereof, a door pivotally secured to the cabinet adjacent said compartment normally closing" its opening, said door being constructed and formed to' define a recess in its inner face, a refrigerating system associated with said refrigerator, said system including a cooling element disposed in said compartment and a refrigeranttranslating device, said device maintaining said cooling element below 32 F. for chilling and creating convection currents of air in said cornpartment and in the recessed portion of said door, a plurality of vertically spaced apart food supporting shelves within said compartment, a hydrator receptacle having at least a portion thereof disposed in the recess of said door and exposed to saidair currents, said receptacle being provided with an access opening and a member carried thereby and movable relative thereto for substantially closing said receptacle access opening, means for pivotally mounting said receptacle upon said compartment door with its closure member normally adjacent to and extending in substantially parallel relation with the inner face of said door at said recessed portion thereof, and said receptacle being swingable about its pivotalmounting,-when said door is opened, into' a substantially horizontal position whereby its closure memberforms a support atthe front of said cabinet in close proximity to said shelves for the reception of articles from said compartment during the act of rearranging articles in the compartment. I

3. In a household refrigerator of the type having Walls defining a food storage compartment accessible through an opening in the front wall thereof, a door adjacent said compartment normally closing its opening, said door being pivotally secured to the cabinet for horizontal movement relative thereto, said door being constructed and formed to define a recess in its inner face, a closed refrigerating system associated with said refrigerator, said system including a cooling element disposed in said compartment and a refrigerant translating device, said device maintaining said cooling element below 32 F. for chilling and creating convection currents of air in said compartment and in the recessed portion of said door, a relatively shallow substantially rectangular hydrator re ceptacle having at least a portion thereof disposed in the recess of said door and exposed to said air currents, said receptacle being provided with an access opening, a lid pivotally mounted upon said receptacle for substantially closing its access opening, means for pivotally mounting said receptacle upon said door for vertical swinging movement relative thereto with its lid normally adjacent to and extending in substantially parallel relation with the inner face of said door at said recessed portion thereof, said receptacle being swingable about its pivotal mounting when said door is opened, and means for stopping said receptacle in a substantially horizontal position whereby its lid may be moved to open said receptacle access opening.

4. In a household refrigerator of the type having walls defining a food storage compartment accessible through an opening in the front wall thereof, a door adjacent said compartment normally closing its opening, said door being pivotally secured to the cabinet for horizontal movement relative thereto, said door being constructed and formed to define a recess in its inner face, a closed refrigerating system associated with said refrigerator, said system including a cooling element disposed in said compartment and a refrigerant translating device, said device maintaining said cooling element below 32 F. for chilling and creating convection currents of air in said compartment and in the recessed portion of said door, a plurality of vertically spaced apart food supporting shelves within said compartment, a relatively shallow substantially rectangular hydrator receptacle having at least a portion thereof disposed in the recess of said door and exposed to said air currents, said receptacle being provided with an access opening, a lid carried by said receptacle for substantially closing its access opening, means for pivotally mounting said receptacle upon said door for vertical swinging movement relative thereto with its lid normally adjacent to and extending in substantially parallel relation with the inner face of said door at said recessed portion thereof, said receptacle being swingable about its pivotal mounting when said door is opened, and means for stopping said receptacle in a substantially horizontal position whereby its lid forms a support at the front of said cabinet in close proximity to said shelves for the reception of articles from said compartment during the act of rearranging articles in the compartment.

5. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet having walls defining a food storage chamber with a forwardly presented access opening, a door on said cabinet normally closing said chamber access opening, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant translating device and means for cooling the interior of said chamber, a plurality of vertically spaced apart food supporting shelves within said storage chamber, a receptacle pivotally mounted upon the inner face of said door and having its walls exposed to cool air in said chamber, said receptacle having an access opening, a cover member carried by and movable relative to said receptacle for closing the access opening thereof, said receptacle being normally positioned with its cover member disposed adjacent to and lying along the inner face of said door in substantially parallel relationship thereto, said receptacle being movable about its pivotal mounting, when said door is opened, into a substantially horizontal position at the front of said cabinet, and said receptacle cover member being unattached to said door whereby it moves with the receptacle into said horizontal position and cooperates with said shelves to provide a transfer ledge in close proximity thereto for receiving and supporting articles shifted to and from the shelves during the act of rearranging articles in said chamber.

6. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet having walls defining a food storage chamber provided with an access opening, a door pivotally mounted on said cabinet for horizontal swinging movement normally closing said chamber access opening, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant translating device and a cooling element for chilling air within said chamber, a receptacle pivotally mounted upon said door for vertical swinging movement relative thereto and exposed to chilled air in said chamber, said receptacle having an access opening normally facing the inner face of said door, a cover member carried by said receptacle for closing the access opening thereof, said cover member being disposed in substantially parallel relationship to the inner face of said door, said receptacle being movable about its pivotal mounting into a substantially horizontal position relative to said door in the vicinity of said chamber access opening, said receptacle cover member being unattached to said door whereby it swings simultaneously with the receptacle into said horizontal position and provides a transfer ledge for receiving and supporting articles during the act of rearranging articles in said chamber, and said cover member being movable relative to said receptacle while the same is in said horizontal position to uncover said receptacle access opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,012,262 Forsthoefel Aug. 27, 1935 2,047,996 Crosley July 21, 1936 2,155,967 Carroll Apr. 25, 1939 2,576,691 Money Nov. 27, 1951

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