Patent GB-260542-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to refrigeration apparatus
IPC: F25B17/08
Filed: 1926-03-24
Abstract: 260,542. Silica Gel Corporation, (Assignees of Miller, E. B., and Edel, W. L.). Oct. 28, 1926, [Convention date]. Refrigerating, absorption and vacuum machines and processes for.-Apparatus wherein the vapour from water or brine is adsorbed by a porous solid adsorbent such as silica gel, as described in Specifications 225,191 and 228,136. is adapted to operate continuously, and comprises a single fixed evaporator 44, Fig. 1, containing the water or brine, and two adsorber vessels A, B mounted on opposite sides of a frame adapted to rock bv gravity about double knife-edged pivots 12 so as to bring the adsorbers alternately over heating means 51, to effect reactivation of the adsorbent therein, and into communication with the evaporator. The adsorbers are connected by angle-bar members C, 25, the whole rocking system being mounted in a fixed frame E formed of angle-bars. An upright-bar 26 on the rocking system carries a counterbalance-weight 60, which may be adjusted by a set-screw 61 to vary the centre of gravity of the rocking system and thereby alter the duration of the adsorption and activating periods. The vapour from the evaporator 44 rises through a pipe 43 into a valve chamber 30 mounted between the adsorbers and movable with them, a part 42 of the pipe 43 being flexible to permit of the rocking movement. This valve chamber is divided by a partition 32, Fig. 3, into two compartments 31, 31<a> which are in communication with the adsorbers B and A respectively through pipes 33, 33<a>. The pipe 43, 42 from the evaporator leads into a chamber 34 extending through the partition 32 and provided at its ends with seats for valves 37, 37<a>, which are carried by pivoted arms 38, 38<a> and are connected together by a link 40 passing through the chamber 34. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the vapour from the evaporator passes through the open valve 37<a> and the pipe 33<a> into the adsorber A, while the vapour evolved from the adsorber B undergoing reactivation passes through the pipe 33 into the chamber 31 and is either discharged to the atmosphere, through a vent valve 62 or is delivered to a condenser for return to the evaporator. When the adsorber A has gained sufficient weight, the system rocks into a central position in which it rests on all four knife edges, and it remains in this position for some time, with the activated adsorber B away from the heating means and the adsorber A still continuing to adsorb vapour, until with a further increase in the weight of the adsorber A the system rocks completely over. The valve 37 remains closed while the system is in the central position, owing partly to the weight of the open valve 37<a> and to the superior vapour pressure acting on the outside of the valve 37. When the system is further tilted over the heating of the adsorber A creates a pressure in the chamber 31<a> and the valves reverse under the action of gravity. The adsorbers are arranged in casings 28 throughwhich air may flow when in the adsorbing position. The casings are curved to fit the curved open top of the casing 51 containing a main burner 50 and pilot burner 54, and the main fuel cock 55 is actuated through a slotted arm 57 by the adsorber A. The adsorbers may comprise hollow flat elements 17, Fig. 3, or closed-ended tubes depending from headers, as set forth in Specification 264,859. Specifications 5598/90 and 12678/02 are referred to. The Specification, as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also the application of the construction of tubular adsorber to refrigerating systems generally. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.