Improvements in or relating to Refrigerating Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Refrigerating Machines.
A communication from OLOF BERGSTROM, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, United
States of America, Farmer, and THEODOR LINDESTROом, of 5651, South
Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Merchant.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of refrigerating
machines, in which an anhydrous ammonia or other liquefiable, but highly
volatile fluid, having been compressed by a pump, has the heat rendered sensible
by such compression, and abstracted by a cooling medium, the fluid being per-
mitted to expand so as to develop an intense cold.
The apparatus or machine is designed to be mainly automatic in its operation,
so as to dispense with the constant services of a skilled engineer, and from its
compactness of construction, it is peculiarly adapted for use in confined or small
spaces.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view of the
machine.
Figure 2, is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the automatic-controlling-
valve, showing the weighted lever for actuating the same, in elevation.
Figure 3, is an end view, partly in section of the valve casing.
•
Figure 4, is a cross sectional view, taken on line 4, 4, of Figure 2.
Figure 5, is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the compressor.
Figure 6, is a horizontal sectional view, thereof taken on line 6, 6, of Figure 5.
Figure 7, is a cross sectional view taken on line 7, 7, of Figure 5.
Figure 8, is a similar view taken on line 8, 8, of Figure 5, and
Figure 9, is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of one end of the com-
pressor, showing the construction of the exhaust and suction valves.
Referring to the drawings 10 represents the compressor-casing, which is
hollow and lies in a horizontal position, and is provided in its upper portion
with an exhaust channel 11, which communicates with the condenser-coil or
pipe 12, which may be located within a tank 13, through which cold water may
be passed. Located in the ends of the casing 10, are cylinders 14 and 15, which
are arranged so as to afford spaces 16, there-around for the reception of humid
gas from the expansion coil or pipe 17, which communicates with said spaces
through a channel 18, in the casing, and which may be located within a vessel,
not shown, when it is desired to produce ice, or within a room or chamber when
the machine is to be used for reducing the temperature thereof.

page_text: The outer ends of the compressor cylinders 14 and 15, are closed by means
of the cylinder heads 19, which are secured to the casing 10, by means of screw-
bolts 20, or otherwise. Passing through each of the heads 19, are tubular valve
casings 21 and 22, whose outer portions are closed by means of plates 23, secured
on the outer surfaces of the cylinder heads.
Within each of the valve casings 21, is seated a suction valve 24, around
whose stem is placed a spring 25, which normally holds said valve in a closed
position, and seated in each of the valve casings 22, is an exhaust valve 26,
around whose stem is placed a spring 25, to normally hold it in a closed position.
Journaled in suitable bearings of the compressor casing is a driving shaft 27,
to which power may be applied, through a pulley 28, operated by any suitable
kind of motor. The driving shaft extends into the hollow of the casing 10, and
has on its inner end a crank 29, to which the pitman rods 30, are connected at
one of their ends, and whose other ends are suitably secured to the pistons 31,
located in the compressor cylinders.
Located at a suitable point, is a liquid receiver 32, with which the condenser
coil or pipe 12, communicates at one of its ends. Communicating with the lower
portion of the receiver 32, is an automatic controlling valve which comprises a
casing 34, the inner end of which is formed with a flaring opening 35, to form
a seat for the valve 36, whose stem 37, extends through a suitable opening in
the casing 34, and has its outer end reduced and screw-threaded to engage a
nut 38, used for securing the diaphragm 39, in position on the valve stem. The
outer portion of the casing 34, is provided with a cup-shaped flange 40,. on the
rim of which the diaphragm will rest, and may be secured by means of a ring 41,
bolted or otherwise secured to the casing.
To prevent leakage, a washer 42, may be placed between the diaphragm and
rim of the flange 40, and for a like purpose washers and gaskets 43, may be
employed to secure the diaphragm to the valve stem.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, of the drawing, a portion of the valve stem 37,
is triangular in cross section, so as to permit of the passage of the fluid through
the opening in which the stem is located.
Fulcrumed to the upper portion of the valve casing, is a bell-crank-lever 44,
the longer arm of which is provided with a weight 45, to hold the shorter arm
thereof in contact with the outer end of the stem 37, of the controlling valve.
The expansion coil or pipe 17, communicates at one of its ends, (see Fig. 2),
with the valve casing 34, and as before stated, at its other end with the
channel 18, in the compressor through which the vapor will pass into the annular
spaces 16, around the compresser cylinders and from thence through the ports 46,
in the ends of the compressor into the suction valve casings and cylinders.
By applying power to the driving shaft, it is evident the pistons will be
caused to move alternately back and forth in the compressor-cylinders, which
operation will cause the refrigerating fluid to be drawn through the expansion
pipe and suction-valves into the cylinders, there compressed, and discharged
through the exhaust valves and condensing pipe into the fluid receiver. To
automatically control the flow of the fluid from the receiver into the expansion
coil, the weight is fixed on the lever of the controlling valve at such a point as
to be counter-balanced by the desired degree of pressure, in the expansion coil
and cup of said valve casing, acting on the diaphragm which carries and holds
the valve stem in contact with the shorter arm of the lever. While the desired
degree of pressure is maintained therein, the valve 36, will close the opening 35,
but as soon as the pressure falls below said degree, the weighted lever acting
on the valve stem and diaphragm will cause the valve to open slightly and
allow the fluid to pass into the expansion coil to expand and develop cold, as is
well understood. The expanded fluid or gas passing into the spaces around the
cylinders, which become heated by reason of the compression, will keep them
at a much lower temperature than usual.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with a compressor having spaces around its cylinders, of
a fluid receiver, a condenser coil and an expansion coil both communicating
with the compressor and receiver, and an automatic controlling valve located
on the fluid receiver, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a compressor having spaces around its cylinders, of
a fluid receiver, a condenser coil and an expansion coil both communicating
with the compressor and receiver, and a controlling valve located on the receiver
and comprising a casing provided with an opening flaring at one of its ends,
and having a cup-shaped flange, a diaphragm secured to the rim of said flange,
a valve steam located in the opening of the casing and extending through the
diaphragm, a valve on the inner end of the stem, and a weighted lever ful-
crumed so as to impinge the outer end of the valve stem substantially as set
forth.
3. A valve comprising a casing provided with an opening flaring at one of
its ends, and having a cup-shaped flange, a diaphragm secured to the rim of
said flange, a valve stem located in the opening of the casing and extending
through the diaphragm, a valve on the inner end of the stem, and a weighted
lever fulcrumed so as to impinge the outer end of the valve stem substantially
as set forth.
101
.