APPARATUS INCLUDING A COMPRESSOR

Abstract: Refrigeration apparatus (1) including a compressor (2) resiliently mounted in a sealed housing (3) by springs (11) includes extra springs (20) so that when the apparatus is laid on its side, e.g when packed in a shipping container, the compressor (2) will be restrained from excessive deflectional movement.

Description: APPARATUS INCLUDING A COMPRESSOR The invention relates to apparatus containing a compressor, such as a domestic refrigerator, freezer, co] larder or the like. A domestic refrigerator includes a compressor which may comprise a piston which reciprocates within a cylinder or the compressor may be of the rotary multi-vaned type. The compressor is usually resiliently mounted on a support within a housing, e.g on springs. A problem arises that when the refrigerators are lain on their sides for transport, the compressor units can then move about within their housinq so that consequential damage arises to the compressor and to the associated pipework. A further problem arises in that the oil used to lubricate the compressor can then flow into the condensor circuitry and contaminate the refrigerant fluid. It is one object of the invention to provide apparatus including a compressor mounted in the apparatus and which in use is deflected from its midpoint as a result of vibration wherein restraining means are arranged to restrain the compressor against excessive movement likely to cause damage to the apparatus when the apparatus is laid on one side for transport and like purposes. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus comprising a compressor, condensor, evaporator and a reservoir of refrigerant fluid, the compressor being resiliently mounted within a sealed housing and allowed in use to undergo vibration with a consequential deflectional movement, characterised in that resilient restraining means are mounted between the inside wall of the housing and the compressor such that the deflectional movement can take place when the apparatus is in use, the resilient restraining means being arranged to limit movement of the compressor beyond the extent of the deflectional movement when the apparatus is turned on its side for transport. Preferably the resilient restraining means comprises one or more flat or leaf springs which at one of their ends are welded to the inside wall of the housing, the further end of the springs extending from that wall so that the compressor rests against the spring. Refrigerant apparatus such as a domestic refrigerator is usually taller than its width. A transport container has a defined height which allows perhaps two rows of refrigerant apparatus to be stacked vertically but not three. The remaining space is high enough to a] ow refrigerant apparatus to be received, laid on its side, as the width of the apparatus can be received in that space. Because of the resilient restraining means the apparatus can be arranged in this way without risk of damage to component parts. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of packing a plurality of apparatus in a limited space for transport purposes, the space being in a container characterised in that a plurality of apparatus as defined above are laid on their side so that the resilient restraining means limits movement of the compressor during transport. In another aspect there is provided a bulk container for use in containing articles or goods while they are transported by ships, lorries, trains or the like characterised in that at least one refrigerant apparatus as defined is present within the container and positioned on one of its sides, such that the resilient restraining means restrains the compressor. When the apparatus is laid on one side, it is preferably placed on that side which allows the lubrication oil within the compressor to flow the least distance around the condensor circuit. In order that the invention may be better understood it wi 11 be described with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically the compressor and condensor circuitry of a domestic refriger tor, Figure 2 is a perspective and partially cut-away view of a compressor for use in the refrigeranr. apparatus of the invention, Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a compressor when the refrigerator is on its side, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a container holding -a plurality of refrigerant apparatus according to the invention. In Figure 1 the rear of a domestic refrigerator is shown having a casing 1 formed from steel or like sheet. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor 2 which is contained within a housing 3. The housing 3 has a separate lid 4 which is welded or otherwise sealed to the housing. The compressor is of known type and includes a reciprocating piston 5 including a connecting rod, the free end 6 of which is located in an enclosed slot 7 present at one end of a rotor 8. The rotor 8 rotates inside a winding 9 below a side flange 10 on the compressor body. As the rotor rotates, the free end of the connecting rod reciprocates within the slot 7 and this movement causes the piston 5 also to reciprocate. A number of coil springs 11 resiliently support the compressor. Some are present beneath the body and others are on brackets on the inner side wall of the housing 3 radiaLly spaced about the flange 10 and these springs 11 are in engagement with the flange 10. The specific structure of the compressor and resilient mounting thereof is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be discussed herein because the nature of the structure and operation of the compressor is not crucial to the invention; it is important that the compressor body be resiliently mounted within the sealed housing and liable to undergo excessive movement when turned on its side. The compressor contains a supply of refrigerant fluid, e.g FREON or ammonia, and inlet 12 and outlet 13 pipes, which connect it to the rest of the refrigerant circuitry. As is known, in use, the refrigerant fluid is pumped as a vapour from the outlet 13 and into the condensor pipework 14. The vapour cools and condenses so that by the end of its travel it is in liquid state. The liquid passes through a filter 15 to remove impurities, and then through a narrow capillary tube 16 and into the evaporator 17. The evaporator 17 is situated within the body 1 of the refrigerator and is a generally hollow chamber having a large surface area. The liquid enters the evaporator and then takes in heat energy from within the refrigerator, and thereby evaporates to form a vapour which then returns to the inlet 12 of the compressor 2. The entire process is then repeated. In the normal upright position the compressor 2 is designed to vibrate, e.g with an amplitude A. This is facilitated by the resilient mounting of the compressor in the housinq 3 by the coil springs 11. When the compressor is turned on its side through an angle of 90° (see Figure 3), the weight of the compressor will distort the coil springs 1 1 so that a deflection of amplitude, e.g B, can occur. When the compressor is jolted there will be even more movement C. This can result in damage to the compressor and to the associated pipewor . As shown in Figure 2, two leaf springs 20 formed from steel or the like are welded or otherwise secured to opposite sides of the lid 4 of the housing 3 of the compressor. The free end of each leaf spring 20 extends into the interior of the housing and rests on the compressor body. (The free end of the spring may also be permanently secured to the compressor). The presence of the leaf springs 20 limit the deflection of the compressor to an amount of, e.g D, and supports most of the weight of the compressor when the refrigerator is turned on one side in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. As a result even when the compressor is jolted or otherwise shaken, excess deflection of the compressor cannot occur and the compressor, pipework or the coil springs cannot be damaged. However, when the compressor is in its upright condition, it is not excessively restrained by the leaf springs 20 and can vibrate normally. Two springs 20 are shown in Figure 2, but there may be only one such spring 20 present, or more than t o. The refrigerator can be turned on its side for transport, in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. This means that the lubricating oil from the compressor will flow only a short distance around the refrigerant circuit. When the apparatus is returned to its upright position the oil being denser than the refrigerant fluid, returns quickly to the compressor. If the apparatus is placed on a different side then the oil may enter the condensor circuit 14 such that when it is turned upright the oil may settle, for example, in the bends of the condensor pipework 14. When oil mixes with the refrigerant fluid, "logging" or oil. blockage may occur and damage may occur to the compressor. A standard shipping container 30 of the type used on ferries and ships is shown in Figure 4. The container has an interior compartment which measures approximately 12.04 m long, 2.34 wide and 2.34 m high. It is advantageous if the container can be filled to maximum extent. A domestic refrigerator measures, for example approximately 86.4 cm high, 57.2 cm wide and 66.7 cm deep when packaged for transport. As shown in Figure 4, the container holds two layers (LI, L2 ) of vertically stacked refrigerators and according to the invention a further layer (L3) which have been laid on their side. The simple modification to the compressor and. the direction in which they are laid, as previously described, allows refrigerant apparatus to be transported without damage. The further layer comprises 39 units which is an increase in capacity of 39/136, i.e an increase of almost 30%. The refrigerators are also able to work correctly after they have been removed from the container, returned to an upright position, kept upright for short period of time to allow the oil to flow back into the sump and then connected to an electrical supply. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, thus the compressor may be of other, e.g rotary multi-vaned type, and the apparatus may be turned on whatever side that allows the lubricating oil to flow the least distance around the condensor circuit.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus (1) comprising a compressor (2), condensor (14), evaporator (16) and a reservoir of refrigerant fluid, the compressor (2) being mounted upon resilient supports (11) within a sealed housing (3) and allowed in use to undergo vibration with a consequential deflectional movement, characterised in that resilient restraining means (20) extend from the inside wall of the housing (3) towards the compressor (2), the resilient means (20) being located so that the deflectional movement (A, Fig 3) can take place when the apparatus is in use and being arranged to limit movement (D, Fig 3) of the compressor (2) beyond the extent of the deflectional movement when the apparatus is turned on its side for transport. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the resilient restraining means (20) comprises one or more flat or leaf springs (20), which at one end are welded to the inside wall of the housing (3) and extend from that wall so that the free end thereof rests on the compressor (2). 3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 characterised in that two such springs (20) are present and extend towards the compressor (2) from opposite sides of the housing (3). . 0 4. A method of packing a plurality of apparatus (1 ) in the interior compartment of a bulk container (30) the method comprising locating at least one layer of apparatus in upright condition within the container characterised by laying a plurality of the apparatus (1 ) according to Claim 1,2 or 3 on their side within the container. 5. A method according to Claim 4, characterised by laying the apparatus (1 ) on that side which allows lubrication oil within the compressor (2) to flow the least distance around the condensor circuitry (14), so that oil cannot settle within the condensor circuitry when the apparatus is returned to an. upright condition. 6. A bulk container (30) for use in containing articles or goods while they are transported by ships, lorries o.r trains, characterised in that at least one apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 is lain on its side within the; container (30) . 7. A bulk container (30) according to Claim 6 , characterised in that at least one layer (L1 , L2) of apparatus (1) is stacked vertically within the container, and a further layer (L3) of refrigerant apparatus (1) are turned on their side. 8. A shipping container (30) having a compartment to contain a plurality of goods to be transported characterised in that the compartment contains a layer (L1 , L2) of apparatus (1) in. an upright condition and a further layer (L3) of apparatus (1) placed above the first layer (L1, L2), the apparatus of the further layer (L3) being lain on their sides, these apparatus comprising a compressor (2) , condensor (14), evaporator (16) and a reservoir of refrigerant fluid, the compressor (2) being mounted upon resilient supports (11 ) within a sealed housing (3) and allowed in use to undergo vibration with a consequential deflectional movement, resilient restraining means (20) extending from the inside wall of the housing (3) towards the compressor (2), the resilient means (20) being located so that the deflectional movement (A, Fig 1 ) can take place when the apparatus is in use and being arranged to limit movement (D, Fig 3) of the compressor (2) beyond the extent of the deflectional movement when the apparatus is turned on its side for transport.

Inventors: FREEMAN JOHN, FREEMAN, JOHN
Applicants: NETWORK ELECTRONIC IND LIMITED, NETWORK ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F04B39
IPC codes: B65D85, F04B39