US1958206A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 8, 1934. c. F. RUBSAM 1,958,206

REFRIGERATING- APPARATUS Filed'April' 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8, 1934. c. F. RUBSAM REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNN Patented 3., liiS-l 12 Claims.

The invention relates to refrigerating apparatus.

It is now common practice to install a refrigerating machine associated with the refrigerator-box in kitchens or similar places, and to employ a thermostatically controlled el ctric motor for driving the compressor for the refrigerant and circulating it through the refrigerating line in cooling compartments of the refrigerator box. It is also common practice to provide kitchen equipment consisting of an electric motor for driving kitchen utensils, such as mixers, icecream freezers, egg heaters, and other devices, used in kitchens or households.

The object of the invention is to provide an equipment in which the motor for driving the compressor of the refrigerating machine is utilized to drive kitchen utensils or tools, thus disensing with a separate electric motor for these purposes. By combining the driving means for the utensils with, or utilizing the motor of, the refrigerating machine, a single electric motor will furnish power for both purposes, and the necessity of providing space for, and handling, a separate motor for driving the utensils is dispensed with, the refrigerating machine being usually located in or associated with the refrigerator box which is conveniently accessible where utensils are used.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this character in which the operation of th motor is controlled to independently drive the compressor and the kitchen utensils,

so the load of the compressor and the utensils will not be simultaneously placed on the motor.

Another object is to automatically control the motor when the connection is made, usually through a flexible shaft, to drive the utensil driving mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation of a refrigerating box equipped with the refrigerating machine, and the invention in the lower portion thereof, the cover for the machine compartment being removed for illustrative purposes. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective of the shiftable clutch collar for alternately coupling the motor-driven wheel to the compressor or the utensil-driving mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a por- Cir tion of the utensil-driving shaft and associated parts. Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective of the coupling for the flexible shaft to the motor-driven mechanism. Fig. '7 is a diagram of the electrical connections for the system. Fig. 8 is a section, illustrating another form of the invention.

The invention is exemplified in an electric refrigerator comprising a refrigerator box 16, the upper portion of which contains a cooling compartment, a freezing tank and a thermostat, as well understood in the art. The lower portion of the box is provided with a compartment 11 containing the refrigerating machine which comprises an electric motor 12 fixedly mounted on a base 13; a grooved drive-pulley 14 mounted on the motor shaft; a belt 15 driven by pulley i l;

a pulley l6 driven by the belt 15; a compressor 17 for the refrigerant, mounted on a bracket 18 which is fixed to the base 13, and having a crankshaft 19 which projects from one side of the crank-case of the compressor on which the pulley 16 is loosely or rotatably mounted; a refrigerant line connected by a pipe 20 to the outlet side of the compressor to the usual condenser (not shown), and to the circulating line in the coolin compartment, and a return pipe 21 leading to the inlet side of the compressor.

The hub 16 of pulley 16 has ribs 16 for driving a clutch-collar 22 which is slidable on said hub and on shaft 19, and is provided with grooves 23 for said ribs to drive the collar 22 from the pulley 16. Ribs 16 and grooves 23 form a slidable connection between collar 22 and pulley 16 which will cause this collar to be driven at all times when the wheel 16 is driven by motor 12.

A collar 24 is fixed to the compressor-shaft 19 inside of the hub 16 of pulley l6. Said hub is confined longitudinally on the shaft 19 by said collar and shoulder 25 on the shaft. Collar 2d has clutch-teeth 24 at one end, which are adapted to interfit with clutch-teeth 22 on the inside of collar 22 to drive the compressor and shaft. Collar 22 has an annular groove 22 in which is held a non-rotatable ring 26. A lever 27 is pivoted to the sides of collar 26 and is adapted to shift collar 22 into and out of engagement with the collar 24 on the compressor-shaft. Lever 2'7 is normally pressed to couple collar 22 to fixed collar 24 by a spring 28, so that normally the pulley 16 will be coupled to the compressor-shaft and drive the compressor when the motor 12 is operated, so that the compressor will be operated under the thermostatic control of the machine.

Driving mechanism for a kitchen utensil or tool is associated with the pulley 16 and adapted to be driven thereby through the coupling collar 22, and comprises a pair of integral pulleys 30 and 31 which are loosely mounted on the compressor shaft 19, clutch-teeth 32 on the hub of said pulleys adapted to be engaged and driven by clutchteeth 33 on the outer face of the collar 22 when the latter is uncoupled from the collar 24 which drives the compressor shaft and is coupled to the hub of pulleys 30, 31. The pulley 30 is provided for driving a device or utensil which requires high speed, and pulley 31 for driving devices which are designed for operation at a lower speed. A shaft 34 is secured to a pair of integral pulleys 35 and 36 which are adapted to be driven by a belt 37 from the pulleys 30, 31 respectively. Shaft 34 is mounted in a bearing 36 at the upper end of a bracket 36 which is fixed to the base 13. The outer end of the compressor shaft 19 is journalled in a bearing 37 in said bracket. The outer end of shaft 34 is provided with studs 38 which are adapted to be coupled to a member 39 on a flexible shaft 40 through which any suitable utensil or tool may be driven as well understood in the art. Member 39 is journalled in a coupling-sleeve 41 which is provided with bayonet slots 42 by which the sleeve may be locked to studs 43 on the reduced outer end of the bearing 36*. The fiexible shaft 40. is encased in a flexible sleeve 44 which is secured to one end of the sleeve 41. The bayonet catch, between the sleeve 41 and bearing 36, serves to hold the member 39 of the flexible shaft in connected relation to the shaft 34. Bearing 36 and shaft 34 extend through an opening 45 formed in the removable door 46 for the compartment 11, so that they are accessible for connection to and disconnection from the flexible shaft and sleeve 41 from the outside of the refrigerator-box.

For controlling the operation of the motor 12 independently of the thermostatic control, when a kitchen utensil is to be driven, a switch comprising a fixed contact 47 and a resilient contact 48 are provided, and this switch is operable by sleeve 41. Lever 27 is shiftable into position to drive the pulleys 30, 31 of the utensil driving mechanism by a magnet 49 which is mounted on the lower portion of the bracket 36. The circuit through the magnet 49 is automatically controlled by a switch comprising a fixed contact 50 and a resilient contact 51, and this switch is also operable by sleeve 41. Sleeve 41 is provided with a flange 52 which is adapted to engage a stud 53 which is fixed to switch-member 51 and a strip of insulation 54 connects switch-members 51 and 48, so they will be conjointly shifted to simultaneously control the circuit through magnet 49 and a circuit through the motor 12 which is independent of the thermostat. These switches are automatically shifted by connection and disconnection of sleeve 41 from the bearing 36 when the flexible sha t-is connected to or disconnected from the shaft 34, and are enclosed in a box 55 which is secured in the bracket 36. This bracket 36 supports the utensil-driving mechanism from the base 13 so that it is supported from the same base as the motor and compressor, and, in some instances, is cushioned to render the motor and compressor silent in operation.

In the diagram (Fig. '7), the motor 12 is normally included in a circuit comprising line-conductor 56 and member 5'1 of the line switch, conductors 58 and 59, contacts 60, switch-member 61, which is operably connected to the thermostat 61*, contact 62, conductor 63, member 64 of the line-switch, and line-conductor 65. Normally, the clutch-collar 22 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the motor will drive the compressor of the refrigerating system through pulley 16, collar 22, and collar 24 which is fixed to the compressor.

While the compressor remains coupled with shaft 19 it will be operated by the motor responsively to temperature changes under the control of the thermostat 61 in the box 10. To permit the motor 12 to be operated independently of the thermostat, and for driving a kitchen utensil, switch-contact 48 is connected by a conductor 66 to conductor 63 and switch-member 48 is connected by conductor 67 to conductor 59. Contact 50 of the circuit for the magnet 49 is also connected to conductor 66; and the helix of magnet 49 is included in a conductor 68 which connects contact 51 and conductor 58.

The operation of the machine will be as follows: Normally, the line-switch 5'7, 64 is closed and clutch collar 22 will be coupled to collar 24 on the compressor shaft 19, so that the compressor will be operated by the motor 12 and started and stopped under the control of the thermostat 61 Whenever the temperature in the box rises to a predetermined degree, the compressor will be operated to compress the refrigerant in the line, and when the temperature has been lowered to a predetermined degree through the compression of the refrigerant, the motor will stop. The circuit for this operation will be through conductors 63, 59, and 58. When it is desired to drive a kitchen utensil, the sleeve 41 will be coupled to the bearing 36 and studs 38 on shaft 34 will be held in recesses 39 of member 39 so the flexible shaft 40 will be coupled on shaft 34. The bayonet catch between the sleeve 41 and bearing 36 will lock the sleeve in position to hold the flexible shaft so it will be driven by the shaft 34. When the sleeve 41 is coupled to the bearing 36 flange 52 on the sleeve will engage contact stud 53 and automatically shift resilient switch-members 48, 50 into engagement with contacts 47 and 51 respectively to automatically establish a circuit for the operation of the motor 12 independently of the thermostat 61, and to energize the magnet 49 to shift lever 27 and clutch collar 22 to disconnect it from the collar 24 on the compressor shaft 19 and to couple the clutch-collar 22 to the wheels 30, 31. So long as contacts 47, 48 are held closed by sleeve 41, pulley 16 will drive collar 22, pulleys 30, 31, belt 37, and pulleys 35, 36 and shaft 34 to drive the flexible shaft 40 which is connected to any desired rotary tool or utensil. The circuit for the motor will then be as follows: Line conductor 65, switch-member 64, conductors 63, 66, contacts 4'7, 48, conductor 6'7, motor 12, conductor 58, switch-member 57 and line-conductor 56, and, as a result, the utensil driving mechanism will be driven independently of the thermostat. During the same period a circuit will be established through conductor 66, contacts 50, 51, conductor 68, in which the magnet 49 is included, and conductor 58, to cause the magnet to hold the clutchsleeve 41 will be uncoupled from the bearing 36 which will disconnect the flexible shaft from shaft 34 and release the contacts 48, 51 to automatically open the independent circuit through the motor 12 and the circuit through magnet 49. As a result, the removal of the sleeve 41 will cause the circuit through magnet 49 to be interrupted and the motor-circuit through switch-members 4'7, 48 to be interrupted, and clutch-lever 27 will be released so that spring 28 will, through lever 27, uncouple clutch-collar 22 from wheel 30, and couple it to collar 2s so it wi l drive the compressor shaft.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8, the clutch-collar 22 is controlled by a lever 2'? which is pivoted at 27* to the frame 36 and has its upper end provided with a stud 27 which is adapted to be operated by the flange 52 of the coupling-sleeve il. In this form of the invention, the switch- members 50, 51 are dispensed with, and the flange 52 of sleeve 41 is adapted to engage a stud 27 for shifting the contact 48- into engagement with a fixed contact 47 which is included in no independent motor-circuit, as hereinbefore described. Spring 28 normally presses the lower end of lever 27 inward.

The invention exemplifies a refrigerating machine provided with mechanism for driving any kitchen tool or utensil desired; in which provision is made for driving at different speeds to cause the mechanism to drive different tools or utensils r effective speeds; in which the utensilat t driving mechanism and the compressor are controlled so they will be alternately operated to prevent the load of the compressor and the utensil from being simultaneously applied to the motor; in which provision is made for a detachable connec tion with a fl xible shaft with driving mechanism housed with the refrigerator box; in which the circuit for the operation of the motor to drive the utensil and the clutch therefor are automatically controlled by the connection of the flexible shaft to the driving mechanism, so that nothing more than the connection and disconnection of the flexible shaft are necessary in controlling the operation of the driving mechanism from the motor which operates the compressor of the refrigerating machine; in which the motor is controlled to operate independently of the thermostat when the utensil is to be driven; and in which the entire utensil-driving mechanism is mounted on the same base with the electric motor and compressor, so that it may be installed as a part of the refrigerating unit, with means accessible from th outside for coupling the flexible shaft to the ving mechanism.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to details set forth, since these may be IllOdlfiBd within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope or" the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

i. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of electric motor, a compressor operable by the motor, a power operable auxiliary device, and means for optionally driving the device from the motor independently of the compressor.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a compressor, a power operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, means for driving said device from the motor, and means for controlling driving means to operate the compressor and said device independently of one another.

3. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a compressor, a power oparable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor at one speed, means for driving said device from the motor at different speeds, and means for optionally controlling the operation of said device independently of the compressor.

l. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a compressor, a power operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, means for riving said device from the motor comprising a detachable coupling, and a switch controlled by the coupling and controlling the motor to control the operation of said device.

5. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a compressor, a power operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, means for driving said device from the motor, comprising a detachable coupling, and means controlled by the coupling for conjointly controlling the operation of the motor to drive the compressor and said device and to render one of them operative and the other inoperative.

6. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a compressor, a power operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, an enclosure for the motor, compressor and compressor driving means, and means for optionally driving said device from the motor extending through the wall of the enclosure comprising a detachable coupling disposed so it can be manipulated from the outside of the enclosure.

'7. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a pulley driven by the motor, a compressor, means for driving the compressor from the pulley, comprising a coupling, a power operable auxiliary device, means for driving said device from the ptuley comprising a coupling, and means for controlling the couplings to drive either the compressor or said device.

8. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a circuit for supplying current to the motor including a thermostatically controlled switch, a compressor, a power-operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, means for driving the device from the motor comprising a detachable, mechanical coupling, and means for shunting out the thermostatically controlled switch from the motor circuit comprising a switch arranged so that it is automatically closed to render the shunting means operative upon attachment of the coupling to effect drive of the device by the motor.

9. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a circuit for supplying current to the motor including a thermostatically controlled switch, a compressor, a power-operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, means for optionally driving the device from said motor independently of the compressor, and means for rendering the switch ineffective to open the aforesaid circuit during drive of the device by the motor.

10. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a circuit for supplying current to the motor including a thermostatically controlled switch, a compressor, a power-operable auxiliary device, means for optionally driving the device from the motor independently of the compressor and switch controlled means for shunting out the thermostatically controlled N current to the motor including a thermostatically controlled switch, a compressor, a power-operable auxiliary device, means for driving the compressor from the motor, means for driving the device from the motor comprising a detachable mechanical coupling, and means whereby the switch is automatically rendered ineffective to open the aforesaid circuit upon attachment of the coupling to effect drive of the auxiliary device by the motor.

CHARLES F. RUBSAM.

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