Cooling device

2,152,467

March 28, 1939.

S. A. CROSBY

COOLING DEVICE

Filed Feb. 8, 1936

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Patented Mar. 28, 1939

2,152,467

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,152,467 COOLING DEVICE Stephen A. Crosby, New York, N, Y. Application February 8, 1936, Serial No. 62,927

Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of refrigeration and has particular reference to a novel cooling device adapted to be utilized in cooperation with a conventional refrigerating machine to cool beverages or the like, and is in general applicable for purposes such as those for which ice cubes are employed.

In its preferred embodiment the invention comprises sealed containing means enclosing a substance capable of undergoing change of state under temperature conditions usually met in the refrigerating art, and having resilient expansion compensating means cooperating with the containing means and the substance, adapted to compensate for variations in volume of the substance arising from variations in temperature. According to the invention the above mentioned combined instrumentalities are applicable to give up heat to a refrigerating machine and consequently be cooled thereby, and then subsequently be submerged in a liquid to absorb heat therefrom and consequently cool the liquid, and then subsequently be returned to the refrigerating machine to give up thereto the heat abstracted from the liquid while cooling the same.

The invention has as an object to provide an enclosed cooling device applicable for convenient storage in the ice cube compartment of a conventional refrigerating machine.

The invention has as a further object to provide an enclosed cooling device applicable for use submerged in a beverage or the like contained in a conventional drinking glass.

The invention has as a further object to provide an efficient heat conducting envelope or shell.

The invention has as a still further object to provide resilient expansion compensating instrumentalities adapted to compensate for variations in volume of a heat accumulator substance under the influence of changing temperature conditions.

The invention has as another object to provide a cooling device having an enclosing shell or envelope adapted to prevent admixture of an enclosed substance with the beverage being cooled while submerged in the same.

The invention has as still other objects to provide a cooling device which will be economical to manufacture; and convenient to use and maintain in a sanitary condition.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawing which exemplify one embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration.

(CI. 62—1)

In the drawing;

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof taken on 5 the line 3—3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 3 and,

Fig. a is a side elevation showing the several parts disassembled but disposed in proper rela- 10 tion.

In the drawing, the numerals 10 and II designate substantially hemispherical complementary hollow shells formed from relatively thin sheet metal, preferably aluminum. Shell 10 has at its 15 free edge an integral annular outwardly overhanging flange 12 which is provided with an outer integral annular upstanding rim or flange 13. Shell 11 has at its free edge an integral annular outwardly overhanging flange 14 adapted to be 20 received by rim 13 on shell 10. At assembly of the shells, which will be more fully described hereinafter, upper portion or edge 15 of rim 13 is curled or crimped over flange 14 on shell II thus locking or clinching the shells together. 25

Disposed in intervening relation between the abutting faces of flanges 12 and 14, and forming a sealing gasket therefor, is annular flange 16— 16, comprising an outer annular brim or flange of a resilient bladder, generally designated IT. 30 Bladder 17 is preferably of relatively thin rubber, and comprises a pair of identical spherical shell segments of one base, 18—18, having integral with their free edges outwardly extending annular flanges or rims 16—16. Spherical seg- 35 ments 18—18 are disposed in complementary coaxial relationship so that the faces of flanges 16—16 are in abutment. Preferably flanges 16— 16 are cemented together with any suitable adhesive cement, thus effectively sealing the bladder 4 and forming a unitary assembly which defines therewithin a sealed cavity 20.

With the various component parts assembled the outer surface of the device defines a substantially spherical body having an outer equatorial 45 sealed seam; and the inner surface thereof defines a substantially spherical cavity divided into two equal portions 19—19 by the resilient bladder IT which forms a hollow partition or cofferdam disposed in the same plane with the outer equa- 50 torial seam.

In cavities 19—19 may be any suitable substance capable of absorbing and giving out heat; but a substance capable of undergoing a change of state with relatively high latent heat within 65

2,153,487 the range of temperatures encountered under ordinary conventional refrigeration conditions is preferred. Aqueous substancesuch as water possesses satisfactory characteristics. The cavity 2G 5 of bladder II may contain any resilient substance; but a substance in the gaseous state, such for example as air is preferred.

The preferred method of assembling the several parts is as follows: The bladder 17 is first 10 assembled by applying a suitable adhesive cement to the abutting surfaces of flanges 16—16, and then superposing one of the members 18—18 over the other in the relation shown in Fig. 4. Sufficient pressure may now be applied upon the 15 flanges 16—16 to bring their abutting surfaces into intimate contact with the adhesive and thereby secure a satisfactory bond. The air normally enclosed by the members 18—18 is sufficient for satisfactory operation. With the blad20 der now assembled it will be noted that the same resiliently yields to pressure, in that the air contained therein readily undergoes contraction and expansion.

Hie assembled bladder 17 and the shells 10 25 and i I are now submerged in water and disposed in the relation shown in Fig. 5. Cavities i9—19 will of course immediately fill with water. The bladder is now bodily lowered, the flange 16 thereof entering rim 13 of shell 10 until the 30 under surface of flange 16 rests upon the upper surface of flange 12. With the bladder now positioned in shell 10, shell 11 is next bodily lowered, flange 14 thereof entering rim 13, and continuing ___downward until the under surface of flange 14 35 rests upon the upper surface of flange 16. With the several parts now positioned in proper relation, and with slight pressure applied to the shells urging them together, the assembly may be removed from the water and placed in a suit40 able press adapted to forcibly clinch or crimp edge 15 of flange 13 over flange 14. After the crimping operation the assembly is complete.

In operation the cooling device is first placed in a conventional refrigerating machine, pref45 erably in the ice cube compartment thereof. The refrigerating machine withdraws heat from the water contained in cavities 18—19, the heat being readily conducted by the thin metallic walls of shells 10 and II. Suffering a loss of heat the 50 temperature of the water drops until the freezing point is reached, at which point the water undergoes change of state, solidifying into ice.

The stresses introduced in the shell by the expanding substance are negligible, since the ex55 pansion accompanying solidification of the aqueous substance is readily permitted by the bladder which constitutes a cushion and consequently the walls of the shell may be very thin, resulting in highly efficient transfer oi heat. The efficiency 68 of the device is further enhanced due to the arrangement of the bladder in the center of the shell, said arrangement permitting the aqueous substance to occupy the upper and lower cavities and thereby intimately contact substantially the entire wail area of the shell. The bladder, being an insulator of heat, is so positioned that it does not unduly obstruct the transfer of heat to and from the substance.

-q When the freezing process is completed the cooling device may at any desired time be re moved from the refrigerating machine and be submerged in a drinking glass of beverage to cool the same. After cooling the beverage the cooling 75 device may be returned to the refrigerating machine to give up thereto the heat taken from the beverage while cooling the same.

Several of my cooling devices may be used simultaneously in the above described manner, being applicable for purposes such as those for 5 which ordinary ice cubes have heretofore been utilized; but having several advantages over ice cubes, one of which is of particular importance in that the melting ice within the sealed shell cannot dilute the beverage. 10

While I have shown and described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the precise details herein disclosed illustratively, as many modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, jg which is defined in the following claims.