Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, LOUIS BLOCK, of 156 West Ninety-fifth Street in the City and County of
New York, in the State of New York, United States of America, Engineer,
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 :-
The improvement relates to the provisions for transferring the refrigerating
medium from the condenser coils to the expansion coils. I use ammonia or
analogous volatile liquid as the refrigerating medium, reducing it to the liquid forin
by cooling under pressure and transferring it from the condenser coils into the
expansion or evaporating coils by alternately filling and emptying a cavity in the
moving valve. I provide for holding the valve to its seat by the pressure of
the fluid itself, and cause the pressure to be automatically adjusted. I provide for
varying the capacity of the cavity as may be required from time to time.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this Specification and represent what
I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1. is a general side elevation of the entire apparatus, and
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion on a larger scale.
Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2, with the cover and valve
removed.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modification.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section and
Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they appear.
B is an upright compressor, which may be of any ordinary or suitable form,
mounted on a framing A, and operated by a cranked shaft D, which is stendied by a
fly-wheel and rotated by means of a steam-engine or other suitable, power, not
shown. The ammonia is delivered in the gaseous form through the pipe E and
separator F into the condenser coils G, where it is subjected to a shower of cold
water which lowers its temperature, and it is delivered therefrom at intervals in
measured quantities into the pipe connected with the evaporating coils Pin
which it develops the cold, and is ultimately delivered therefrom through a pipe Q
into the compressor B to be compressed and again passed around.
My improvement operates by means of a valve J having an operating shaft J'
and a worm-wheel J, the latter being operated by a worm on the main shaft D.
The valve J has a cavity j. The fixed base K with which the valve makes a tight
and easy contact, is provided with two passages k¹, k, to which the cavity j in the
valve J is alternately presented. The passage connects with the pipe H,
bringing liquid ammonia at a high pressure from the condenser. The passage k
connects with the pipe O leading to the evaporating coils P in which a low pressure
obtains. When the cavity j is presented to the passage, the cavity is filled with
liquid ammonia. When by the rotation of the valve J, due to the engagement of
the worm on the main shaft D with the worm-wheel J³, the cavity j is carried away
from the passage kl, the cavity remains filled with the liquid ammonia. When by
the continued rotation of the valve J this cavity jis presented to the passage, the
liquid ammonia in the cavity j is at once liberated and is allowed to flow through
the pipe O into the evaporating coils P. The ammonia performs such movernent
with great promptness, due partly to the action of gravity, but more to the
tendency of the liquid ammonia to assume a gaseous form the instant it is relieved
from pressure. So soon as the cavity j comes into communication with the

page_text: passage, the ammonia in the cavity j is relieved from pressure, and a portion of
it assumes the vaporous or gaseous form. Its expansion drives out the ammonia
which still remains in the liquid condition, transferring into the pipe O, and thus
into the evaporating coils P, all except a thin vapour of ammonia which remains,
filling the cavity j.
The cavity in the valve J extends upward in an inclined direction through
the valve. Its upper portion is screw-threaded and receives a screw L, the outer
end of which is scored across, as indicated at 1, adapted to receive a screw-driver
by which the screw may be operated to turn it in one direction or the other.
Turning it in one direction forces in the screw, and diminishes the capacity of the
cavity. Turning it in the opposite direction partially withdraws the screw and
increases such cavity. The measure of ammonia transferred at each presentation
of the cavity alternately to the two passages k¹, k³, may be very greatly reduced
by turning the screw inward to its fullest extent, or it may be considerably
increased by turning such screw in the opposite direction so as to partially with-
draw it from the cavity. When the screw is thus set further inward, the quantity
of ammonia transferred at each revolution of the valve J from the pipe H to the
pipe O, and consequently from the condenser G to the evaporator P, is reduced.
When the screw is adjusted outward, the quantity thus tranferred at each revo-
lution is increased.
The lower face of the valve J fits nicely on the adjacent surface of the base K
when the valve is pressed gently down upon the latter. But the shaft J' is capable
of a slight end movement so that the valve J may rise a little above its seat on the
base K, when required. M is a strong cover which matches tightly on the base K
and forms a chamber m which covers the valve J. On first starting the machine,
the chamber m only contains air at ordinary pressure. The liquid ammonia at the
pressure of say one hundred and fifty pounds per square inch, received through the
passage, lifts the valve slightly from its seat on the base K, and the chamber m
is filled with ammonia. The pressure thus increased in the chamber forces the
valve to its seat on the base K, and it operates tightly thereafter.
through leakage or other cause the pressure in the chamber m becomes insufficient
and the valve J rises a little, more ammonia will escape from the high-pressure
passage and add to the pressure in the chamber m and thus again force the valve
to its seat.
Whenever
When it is desired to reduce the quantity of ammonia transferred at each revo-
lution of the valve J, the cock N is closed, the cover removed and the screw L
turned inward to the required amount and the parts again replaced. If it be
desired to increase the amount of ammonia transferred at each revolution, the
screw is thus turned outward.
The size of the cavity in the measurer and the volume of vapour removed at each
transfer are proportioned inversely to the densities respectively of the liquefied
refrigerant and the vapour under the conditions of effective working, or in other words,
the volume of vapour removed from the expansion coils at each transfer is as much
greater than the measure of liquid transferred as the density of the liquefied
ammonia, greater than that of vapour under the low pressure necessary for
effective refrigerating operation. Thus by a positive operation, without requiring
careful manipulation on the part of the attendant, the pressure in the expansion
coils will always be kept practically constant or within the limits of effective
refrigeration, because any rise in the pressure and density of the vapour will
result in the removal of more ammonia than supplied by the measurer until
equilibrium is established and owing to the proportioning of the size of the
measurer relatively to the volume of vapour as above set forth, this state of
equilibrium will correspond with a sufficiently low pressure for effective refrigeration
with the liquefied refrigerant. The intervals of transfer of the liquefied refri-
gerant are varied correspondingly with the rate of removal of the resultant vapour
from the expansion coils.
Modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principle or

page_text: sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I prefer to make the bearing surface
of the valve plane, and the adjacent surface of the base K correspondingly plane.
But either surface can be made conical or domed, the other being correspondingly
formed to make a tight and easy engagement therewith.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modification in which the bearing surface is greatly
coned, made almost cylindrical. These figures show also a modification by
providing the screw corresponding to L formed with a large collar, having a
nicely finished under face which, when the screw is forced home, makes a gas-
tight contact with the adjacent surface of the valve. In order to make available
the tightness of such contact, when a change in the capacity of the cavity jis
required, it is necessary to remove the screw previously introduced and insert
another longer or shorter one, having a corresponding collar.
The form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be worked with the
shaft arranged horizontally, so that the view in Figure 4 would be a plan view
instead of a vertical section. The screw L having a collar, as shown, and
requiring to be exchanged bodily in order to vary the capacity of the cavity,
may be used with the form of the valve shown in the principal Figures, 1, 2
and 3, if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The herein described improvement in refrigerating by the vaporization of a
liquefied gaseous refrigerant, such as ammonia, the said improvement consisting in
transferring predetermined quantities of the said refrigerant in a liquid condition
to the space in which it is to be vaporized, removing for each of such transfers a
volume of the resultant vapour as much greater than the volume of liquefied
refrigerant transferred as the density of said liquefied refrigerant is greater than
the density of the said vapour under the low pressure necessary to ensure vaporiza-
tion in said coils, varying the intervals of transferrence correspondingly with the
variations in the rate of removal of the said vapour, condensing the said vapour,
and repeating the round of operations whereby the pressure in the said space is,
without requiring careful manipulation, kept within the limits of effective refri-
geration with the liquefied gaseous refrigerant, the said pressure being always low
enough to ensure the vaporization of the said liquefied refrigerant and its delivery
in the aeriform condition to the means of removal notwithstanding variations in the
rate of working substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described refrigerating machine operating by means of liquefied
gaseous refrigerant, such as ammonia, and comprising a set of closed vaporizing
coils, a compressor, or equivalent means for compressing the volatilized refrigerant,
a surface condenser, a measurer such as the plug J j, for the liquefied refrigerant,
a connection between the liquid space of said condenser and the said measurer, a
connection between the said measurer and the said vaporizing coils, a connection
between the said vaporizing coils and the said compressor, a connection between
such compressor and the condenser, and mechanical means for operating the said
measurer to transfer the liquefied refrigerant at intervals varying in frequency with.
the speed at which the machine is run, the capacity of said compressor for removing
and compressing vapour for each such transfer being as much greater in volume
than the size of said measurer as the density of the said liquefied refrigerant is
required to be greater than the density of the said vapour under the low pressure
necessary to insure vaporization at the low temperature obtaining, whereby the
pressure in said vaporizing coils is without requiring careful manipulation, kept
within the limits of effective refrigeration with the liquefied gaseous refrigerant,
said pressure being always low enough to ensure the vaporization of the said
liquefied refrigerant at the low temperature obtaining, and its delivery in the
aeriform condition to the compressor at the different speeds of the said machine,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: .
3. As a means for introducing liquefied refrigerant in measured quantities into
the evaporating coils of a refrigerating apparatus, the valve J having a cavity j, in
combination with a base K, having two widely separated ports k¹, k³, and means as
the shaft J and worm-wheel J' for moving the said valve so that the cavity jis
presented alternately to each of the said ports, and with a cover M enclosing the
said valve loosely in a gas-tight chamber m, the valve being adapted to lift from
its seat when subjected to an excess of pressure from below so as to allow gas to
flow into the chamber and induce a pressure therein holding the valve gently to
its seat, all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.
4. As a means for introducing liquefied refrigerant in measured quantities into
the evaporating coils of a refrigerating apparatus, the valve J having a cavity j,
in combination with a base K, having two widely separated ports k¹, k², and means
as the shaft J' and worm-wheel J' for moving the said valve so that the cavity is
presented alternately to each of the said ports, and with a device as the screw L,
for varying the capacity of the cavity as may be required, all substantially as and
for the purposes herein specified.
5. As a means for introducing liquefied refrigerant in measured quantities into
the evaporating coils of a refrigerating apparatus, the valve J, arranged to rise a
little from its seat, and having a cavity ), in combination with the screw L,
adapted to vary the capacity of such cavity, and with the enclosing casing M,
leaving a chamber m in which the gas is by the rise of the valve allowed to
accumulate to a sufficient pressure to afterward hold the valve to its seat, all
arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.
6. As a means for introducing liquefied refrigerant in measured quantities into
the evaporating coils of a refrigerating apparatus, the valve J, arranged to rise a
little from its seat, and having a cavity, and means for operating such valve, in
combination with exchangeable screws L, each having a collar, adapted not only to
change the capacity of the cavity by the adjustment of such screws outward and
inward, but also to make a specially tight joint when any such screw is turned
inward to its fullest extent so as to press the collar upon a corresponding seat, and
with the enclosing casing M, leaving a chamber m in which the gas is by the rise
of the valve allowed to accumulate to a sufficient pressure to afterward hold the
valve to its seat, all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein
specified.
Dated this 28th day of July 1892