US3736768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine compartment arrangement for a refrigerating device
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-29
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-06-29
Abstract
Abstract For a domestic refrigerator or freezer, a machine compartment arrangement to improve cooling of the compressor and condenser therein by providing double, serially-arranged fans, the upstream one being arranged to draw air through the condenser, and the downstream one being arranged to direct air directly against the compressor. The arrangement is also intended to maintain a cooling air flow against the compressor as dirt builds up on the upstream face of the condenser by providing a bypass around the condenser in the plenum in which the condenser is located. Additionally, the inlet air duct to the machine compartment has its inlet spaced above the floor, and a clean-out door giving access to the upstream face of the condenser is provided in the back wall of the machine compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 P Harbour
- 👤 C Wilcox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:29
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D23/00; F25D23/003; F25D2323/00; F25D2323/002; F25D2323/0024; F25D2323/0026; F25D2323/00264; F25D2323/0027; F25D2323/00274; F25D2323/0028; F25D2323/00281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A machine compartment arrangement for a refrigerating device, comprising: means defining a casing for said machine compartment at the bottom end of said refrigerating device; a refrigerant compressor in said casing; a refrigerant condenser in said casing; an electric motor having a double shaft extension located between said condenser and compressor; an upstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said condenser, and a downstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said compressor; an upstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said condenser, and a downstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said compressor; means defining a path for said air flow in sequence through said condenser, said upstream fan, said downstream fan, and across said compressor; said path defining means includes a plenum in which said condenser is located, the downstream wall of said plenum including means defining a fan ring opening in which said upstream fan is located; said condenser has a cross sectional face area less than the cross sectional area of said plenum transverse to the normal path of said air flow to provide a bypass through which air flows in accordance with the resistance to air flow imposed by said condenser; said condenser comprises both an upstream and a downstream portion whereby blockage of said upstream portion does not preclude air flow to cool said downstream portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A machine compartment arrangement for a refrigerating device, comprising: means defining a casing for said machine compartment at the bottom end of said refrigerating device; a refrigerant compressor in said casing; a refrigerant condenser in said casing; an electric motor having a double shaft extension located between said condenser and compressor; an upstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said condenser, and a downstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said compressor; an upstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said condenser, and a downstream fan on the shaft at the end of said motor facing said compressor; means defining a path for said air flow in sequence through said condenser, said upstream fan, said downstream fan, and across said compressor; said path defining means includes a plenum in which said condenser is located, the downstream wall of said plenum including means defining a fan ring opening in which said upstream fan is located; said condenser has a cross sectional face area less than the cross sectional area of said plenum transverse to the normal path of said air flow to provide a bypass through which air flows in accordance with the resistance to air flow imposed by said condenser; said condenser comprises both an upstream and a downstream portion whereby blockage of said upstream portion does not preclude air flow to cool said downstream portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: said upstream and said downstream fan comprise propeller fans; and said downstream fan substantially squarely faces said compressor to discharge air directly thereagainst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: said machine compartment is generally rectangular in outline as viewed in plan, said condenser is located in one rear corner portion and said compressor is located in the other rear corner portion, and said path defining means includes an inlet at the front of the forward corner portion forwardly of said rEar corner portion in which said condenser is located.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein: said path defining means includes an air inlet duct in said forward corner portion, the bottom wall of said duct having a forward edge spaced above the floor and generally in the plane of the front face of said machine compartment so that air is drawn into said inlet duct from forwardly of the refrigerating device, and from above the floor to reduce pickup of dust.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein: a vertical rear wall for said machine compartment, including a clean-out door therein located to permit access to the upstream face of said condenser when said door is open.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |