US3364694A - Refrigerator apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1968 D. COHEN ETAL 3,364,694

REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS DAVID COHEN JOHN N. M5 GILL BY //MMWJW KM' ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 23, 1968 D. COHEN ETAL 3,364,594

REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 196e v :s sheets-sheet 2 D. COHEN ETAL REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS Jan. 23, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 2, 1966 United States Patent Oice 3,364,694- Patented Jan. 23, 1968 3,354,694 REFRIGERATOR APPARATUS David Cohen and John N. Mciii, St. Joseph, Mich., as-

signors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 598,800 2t) Claims. (Ci. 62-265) This invention relates to a refrigerator apparatus such as is used for the storage of food.

It is customary in refrigerators particularly of the household type to have a refrigerated area or space adapted to be maintained at above freezing temperatures for the temporary storage of food materials and a freezer space maintained at a sub-freezing temperature for storing frozen food materials usually for longer periods of time.

One of the features of this invention is to provide a refrigerator apparatus including a storage compartment having side and bottom walls in the form of an enclosing hollow jacket together with conduit means for directing chilled air from an outlet thereof to the hollow interior of the jacket for ow of chilled air into the jacket so that material stored in this compartment will be maintained 4in chilled condition by the heat conducting walls of the jacket without direct contact of the chilled air with the material.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigerator apparatus having a new and improved hollow jacket construction.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigerator apparatus having new and improved means for supporting the storage compartment for selective connection to and disconnection from the chilled air supply.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a refrigerator apparatus having means for closing the outlet from the chilled air supply upon disconnection of the storage compartment therefrom.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view showing semidiagrammatically a refrigerator apparatus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the refrigerator apparatus of FIGURE 1 but with the doors removed.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view of a storage compartment embodying the invention and adjacent parts of the refrigerator.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view enlarged and looking substantially from theline 6 6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form of storage compartment embodying the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view of a modified refrigerator apparatus embodying the invention having means for pivotally supporting a pair of storage compartments for selective connection and disconnection to the chilled air supply.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view showing semi-diagrammatically a modified form of refrigerator apparatus embodying the invention and including means for closing the outlet upon disconnection of a storage compartment from the chilled air supply.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 1 through 6 of the drawings, the refrigerator apparatus 10 includes a cabinet having insulatedwalls 11, 12 and 13 and an interior horizontal Wall ormullion 14 dividing the interior into an abovefreezing refrigerator space 15 and a below freezingfreezer space 16. Each of these spaces is normally closed by adoor 17 and 1S, respectively.

Adjacent therear wall 12 there is provided achamber 19 in which is located -a motor driven blower orfan 20. The front or right-hand side of the fan as viewed in FIG- URE l is the blower inlet while the rear or left-hand side is the blower outlet.

Leading from the blower outlet side is a first duct means 21 having anexit 22 emptying into the bottom of thefreezer space 16. At the top of the freezer space, there is provided an access means 23 in the form of an elongated horizontal opening as shown in FIGURE 2 leading from thefreezer space 16 to the inlet side of theblower 20.

Also leading from the outlet side of theblower 20 is a second duct means 24 extending upwardly along therear wall 12 and having vertically spacedhorizontal exit openings 25 emptying into the top of therefrigerator space 15. In order to return air from therefrigerator space 15 to the inlet side of the blower, there is provided a second access means 26 in the form of a short duct leading from adjacent the bottom of therefrigerator space 15 to the inlet or front side of the blower 2d.

In order to chill the air, there is provided sub-freezing refrigerating means which may be arefrigerant evaporator 27 in the first duct means 21. Thisevaporator 27, as illustrated, is a part of a conventional compressorcondenser-evaporator type of refrigeration system, certain of whose components are concealed in thebottom machine compartment 23.

Positioned in therefrigerator space 15 adjacent the bottom thereof is astorage compartment 29 which is shown in detail in FIGURES 3 through 6 inclusive. One ormore compartments 29 could be used in the refrigeratedspace 15 for storing either meat or vegetables. As is shown here, this compartment which is located within the cabinet 1li is provided withside walls 30 and abottom wall 31 and an enclosingjacket 32. As is shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, this jacket defines ahollow interior 33 substantially coinciding with the side andbottom walls 30 and 31 of thecompartment 29. Weephole 32a may be provided in the bottom of thejacket 32 for eliminating condensation which may form within thehollow space 33.

In order to supply chilled air to thishollow interior 33, there is provided on the outlet or rear side of the blower Ztl an upwardly extendingchilled air outlet 34. Thisoutlet 34 is provided with conduit means releasably joining theoutlet 34 to thehollow interior 33 of thejacket 32 for flow of the chilled air into and through the jacket. In the illustrated embodiment, this releasable conduit means comprises a flangedopening 35 in thefront wall 36 of the chilledair outlet 34 surrounded by a resilient gasket such asrubber sealing gasket 37. The anged opening comprises one cooperating section on the conduit means while another cooperating section is a rearwardly extendingnozzle 38 on the rear wall of thejacket 32 ofcompartment 29. vVhen the compartment is in normally operating position within the cabinet, thenozzle 33 extends into theflanged opening 35 and is sealed thereto by the gasket, all as shown in FIGURE 4. It is, of course, obvious that thenozzle 38 instead of being on the compartment could be an extension of the chilledair outlet 34 if desired, and in that situation, the sealedopening 35 would then be on thecompartment 29.

In order to support thecompartment 29 in operating position within the refrigerator cabinet 1u and to permit its withdrawal for loading, unloading and cleaning and reinsertion, the top of thecompartment 29 is provided with an outwardly extendingflange 39 at the side thereof which is slidably supported on downwardly extending parallel side brackets d@ which are preferably made of a plastic material and integral with anoverlying shelf 41 also of plastic material. The center of theshelf 41 is supported in the customary way byvertical metal posts 42.

Overlying the interior of thecompartment 29 is a removable low heat conductive or insulated cover 53. In the illustrated embodiment, thiscover 43 is recessed (FIG- URE 3) or hollow so as to provide adead air space 44 and hasside flanges 45 overlying and supported by theflanges 39 of thecompartment 29. With this arrangement both the compartment and cover are movable on the parallel side supporting brackets 4G and once the compartment has been withdrawn forwardly, or to the right as shown in FIGURE l, the cover may then be removed to provide access to the interior of the compartment.

As is shown in FIGURE 4, the chilled air from theoutlet 31% in the insulatedrear wall 12 of the refrigerator cabinet enters adjacent one corner of the generally rectangular illustratedcompartment 29. Symmetrically arranged therewith and opposite this chilled air inlet is a chilled air outlet shown most clearly in FIGURE 6. This outlet is in the form of anopening 46 that may be uncovered to any degree desired as by means of a rotatable valve orshutter 47 which is itself provided with anopening 48 and ahandle 49 for rotating the valve.

When thevalve 47 is rotated until theentire exit opening 46 is exposed, flow through thehollow interior 33 of the compartment jacket is at a maximum so that the lowest possible temperature will be maintained in the interior 59 of the compartment. Then, as thevalve 47 is rotated to close off greater and greater portions of the exit opening d6, the rate of flow falls and the temperature on the interior Sil is thereby raised. Thus, thecompartment 29 may be used for storing many different types of materials at temperatures that are most ideal for the materials. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 6, there are two settings provided with one, 51, being for meat storage when theexit opening 46 is at its Widest and, therefore, the temperature the lowest, and the other, 52, being for vegetables when the opening 46 is partially closed so that a higher temperature is maintained in the compartment interior.

The refrigerator apparatus of this invention has a number of very important advantages. Thus, food material stored in the interior of the storage compartment is kept quite cold because thewalls 39 and 31 are constructed of a heat conducting material so that the chilled air in thehollow spaces 33 chills the food material without coming in Contact with it. This materially reduces moisture loss of the material and, further, any moisture that does evap orate from the material tends to recondense on the inner surfaces of thewalls 30 and 31 so as to be available for rehumidification of the stored material. The temperature within thecompartment 29 has a high degree of uniformity because theside walls 30 andbottom wall 31 tend to be chilled to substantially the same temperature. The preferred structure wherein the inlet to thechilled air space 33 and the outlet therefrom are arranged substantially symmetrically opposite each other enhances this uniformity.

Because the chilled air into thespaces 33 surrounding the storage interior of thecompartment 29 is taken substantially directly from thefreezer space 16, the efficiency of chilling is quite high. As is shown in FIGURE l, this chilled air is drawn immediately into theblower 26 and is then projected immediately into theair fiow spaces 33 around the compartment because of the short and direct chilledair outlet conduit 34.

Theinsulated cover 43 across the top of the compartment performs primarily two very important functions. It

retards the escape of moisture from the compartment during the storage period and also insulated against substantial heat losses through the top of the compartment.

The temperature regulating feature of thevalve 47 is of very great importance as it permits regulating the ternd perature of thestorage compartment 29 depending upon the demands of the food material being stored. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, by merely rotating the shutter of the valve 47 a storage temperature of 28-3l in thecompartment 29 was obtained which is very useful for the storage of meat. Then, by turning the shutter of the valve to the position shown in FIGURE 6 to throttle the chilled air flow through theair spaces 33, the ternperature of storage was raised to the ideal vegetable storing temperature of 32-34 F. In both instances, the relative humidity on the interior of thestorage compartment 29 was about 90% which of course is very eicient in retarding moisture loss from the material being stored.

Turning now to FIGURE 7 of the drawing, a modified form of storage compartment generally designated 129 is shown to comprise a storage compartment generally similar tostorage compartment 29, but including aninner receptacle portion 153 having ahorizontal bottom wall 154, and anouter enclosure portion 155 having abottom wall 156 underlyingbottom wall 154 and in facial engagement therewith. Thus,storage compartment 129 provides ahollow jacket 132 defining a pair ofair fiow paths 132g and 132!) which diverge from theinlet nozzle 138 at the rear thereof to extend around thereceptacle 153 to rejoin at thefront opening 146.

Turning now to FIGURE 8, a further modified form of refrigerator apparatus generally designated 210 is shown to comprise a pair ofstorage compartments 229 generally similar tostorage compartment 29, but .having a generally pie-wedge shape in plan View. Each of the storage compartments is provided with abracket 257 for pivotally mounting the storage compartment on an upright post 253 within therefrigerator space 215. Achilled air outlet 234 is provided with a T-shapedend portion 259 defining a pair of oppositely openingtubular connectors 260 and 261. In the retracted position of the storage compartments 229 as shown in FIGURE 8, the projectingconnectors 269 and 261 extend sealingly into correspondingopenings 22 and 263 of the respective storage compartments.

Thus, when it is desired to have access to either of the storage compartments 229, the user merely need swing the selected compartment outwardly of the pivot post 25S such as to the dotted line position of the right-hand storage compartment, as shown in FIGURE 8. Thebrackets 257 and pivotpost 258 cooperatively define means for guiding the respective storage compartments back into the retracted position wherein the respective storage compartments are in joined connection association with theoutlet 234.

Turning now to FIGURE 9, a further modified form of refrigerating apparatus generally designated 316 is shown to include a plurality of storage compartments 329. Theconnection flange 339 of each of the storage compartments is arranged to be selectively connected to a manifold 363 arranged to receive the chilled air from a suitable forced air supply generally designated 354. Each of theoutlet openings 335 of the manifold 363 is provided with a suitable check valve such asflap valve 336 provided with suitable biasing means 337 for biasing the valve to the closed position when thestorage compartment 329 is disconnected from theoutlet opening 335. Thus, where the storage compartments 329 are disposed in a nonrefrigerated space, the chilled air is effectively prevented from being spilled into the ambient atmosphere when the storage compartments are disconnected from themanifold 363.

The structures of the modified embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGURES 7 through 9 are similar to the structure of the form shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, except where otherwise noted. Elements of the em- Y bodiment of FIGURE 7 similar to those of FIGURES l through 6 are identified by similar reference numerals but one hundred higher; elements of the embodiment of FIGURE 8 are identified `by reference numerals two hundred higher; and elements of the embodiment of PIG- URE 9 are identified by reference numerals three hundred higher.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising: means defining a source of chilled air having an outlet; means defining a storage compartment having boundary walls in the form of a hollow jacket; and

connection means releasably joining said outlet to said hollow jacket for flow of said chilled air from said source into said jacket.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage compartment is provided with supporting means permitting ready removal of the compartment from said apparatus and an insulated releasable cover removable with the compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said connection means comprises cooperating sections at said outlet and on said jacket releasable on said removing of said compartment and means for rejoining said sections on return of said compartment to its operating position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein outlet means are provided from said jacket spaced from said connection means for iiow of air from said jacket.

S. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said jacketed boundary walls include side and bottom walls, and said connection means and said outlet means are located on opposite sides of said jacket so that the chilled air flows around said side and bottom walls prior to exit through said outlet means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein outlet means are provided from said jacket spaced from said connection means for ow of air from said jacket, said outlet means having valve means for regulating volume ow of air through said outlet means and thus through said jacket.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said boundary walls comprise a pair of walls having confronting portions in facial engagement.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow jacket defines a plurality of separate flow paths diverging from said connection means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein outlet means are provided from said hollow jacket spaced from said connection means for flow of air from said hollow jacket, said hollow jacket defining a plurality of separate flow paths diverging from said connection means to said outlet means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for pivotally supporting said storage compartment means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means are provided for movably supporting said storage compartment means and including means for guiding said storage compartment means into joined connection association with said outlet in one position of support.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for selectively closing said outlet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 including valve means closing said outlet when said hollow jacket is disjoined from said outlet.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a valve member for closing said outlet, means for biasing said valve member to said outlet.

15. Refrigerator apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet having means defining a storage space;

wall means defining a source of chilled air having an outlet at one side of said storage space;

means defining a storage compartment having side and bottom walls in the form of an enclosing hollow jacket and positioned in said storage space;

conduit 4means releasably joining said outlet to said hollow jacket for flow of said chilled air from said space into said jacket; and

outlet means from said jacket spaced from said conduit means for flow of air from said jacket into said storage space.

16. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein said storage compartment is provided with supporting means permitting ready removal of the compartment from said apparatus and an insulated releasable cover removable with the compartment, said conduit means comprises cooperating sections at said outlet and on said jacket releasable on said removing of said compartment and means for rejoining said sections on return of said compartment to its operating position, and said outlet means having valve means for regulating volume iiow of air through said outlet means and thus through said jacket.

17. The apparatus ofclaim 16 wherein said conduit means and outlet means are substantially symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said compartment.

18. Refrigerator apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet having wall means defining an above freezing refrigerator space and a below freezing freezer space;

a storage compartment in said cabinet adjacent said refrigerator space having side and bottom walls in the form of an enclosing hollow jacket;

an air circulating blower chamber means adjacent said wall means;

an air circulating blower in said chamber means having an inlet and an outlet;

first duct means from said blower outlet to said freezer space;

subfreezing refrigerating means in heat exchange relationship with said first duct means for chilling the air owing therein to subfreezing temperatures;

access means from said freezer space to said blower inlet;

second duct means from said blower outlet to said refrigerator space;

second access means from said refrigerator space to said blower inlet;

means forming a chilled air outlet from said blower;

conduit means releasably joining said chilled air outlet to said hollow jacket for flow of said chilled air from said source into said jacket; and

jacket outlet means spaced from said conduit means for flow of air from said jacket into said refrigerator space.

19. The apparatus ofclaim 18 wherein said storage compartment is provided with supporting means permitting ready removal of the compartment from said apparatus and an insulated releasable cover removable with the compartment, said conduit means comprises cooperating sections at said outlet and on said jacket releasable on said removing of said compartment and means for rejoining said sections on return of said compartment to its operating Iposition, said outlet means having valve means for regulating volume flow of air through said outlet means and thus through said jacket, and said conduit means and outlet means are substantially symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said compartment.

2t). The apparatus ofclaim 18 wherein said blower is located adjacent said freezer space to receive chilled air substantially directly therefrom, and said compartment jacket is adjacent said blower to receive chilled air substantially directly therefrom.

(References on fellowing page) 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,974 11/1939 Atchison 62-405 2,960,849 11/1960 OConnell 62-419 2,975,619 3/1961 Saunders 62-419 WILLIAM I. WYE, Prima/'y Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS, COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A SOURCE OF CHILLED AIR HAVING AN OUTLET; MEANS DEFINING A STORAGE COMPARTMENT HAVING BOUNDARY WALLS IN THE FORM OF A HOLLOW JACKET; AND

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