Cryogenic cabinet freezer

Claim 2

A cabinet-type refrigeration device comprising cabinet means defining a first cooling region and a second adjacent region, refrigeration-generation equipment disposed within said second region which includes orifice means for expanding a liquid cryogen and means for supplying liquid cryogen to said orifice means, fan means mounted in said cabinet for creating a primary circulation of gas therewithin, inducer means having a substantially completely open flared entrance located in generally surrounding relationship to said orifice means so that the expanding liquid creates vapor and induces a secondary circulation of gas within said first region of the cabinet, said fan means being located so as to cause a flow of gas through said inducer means even when liquid is not being expanded, means for sensing the temperature within said cabinet, means for modulating the continuous flow of liquid cryogen through said orifice means in response to changes in the temperature sensed, and means for removing cryogen vapor from said cabinet.

Claim 3

A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said orifice means-inducer means combination is located closely downstream from said fan means to supercharge said inducer means.

Claim 4

A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein baffle means is located adjacent the discharge from said fan means for directing the high pressure discharge into said first region, wherein the entrance to said inducer is located on the side of said baffle means toward said fan means and the exit from said inducer is located on the side of said baffle away from said fan means.

Claim 5

A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said modulating means includes means for changing the area of said orifice.

Claim 6

A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said orifice-area-changing means is operable in response to the liquid cryogen pressure at said orifice and wherein means is provided for varying said pressure in response to changes in the temperature sensed.

Claim 7

A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fan means is provided within said second region and wherein a plurality of orifice-inducer combinations are provided which direct cryogen vapor in different directions.

Claim 8

A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said fan means includes a plurality of fans which discharge in a horizontal direction to create a cyclonic circulation in said first region about a vertical axis.

Claim 9

A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein another orifice-inducer, which is upwardly directed, is located closely downstream from said horizontal discharge from said fan means.

Claim 10

A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein additional fan means is provided within said second region at a location below said first-mentioned fan means which discharges in a substantially opposite direction and takes suction from a lower position of said first region.

Claim 11

A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein a manifold is provided within said cabinet for supplying liquid CO 2 to said orifice-inducers and wherein means is connected to an upper portion of said manifold for supplying vapor-rich liquid to said upwardly directed orifice-inducer and means is connected to a lower portion of said manifold for supplying vapor-poor liquid to the remainder of said orifice-inducers.

Claim 12

A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein means is provided defining a third region for cooling a load adjacent the opposite side of said second region and wherein a plurality of fan means discharges into said first region and takes suction from said third region and a plurality of additional fan means take suction from said first region and discharge into said third region, thereby creating a generally cyclonic flow pattern about a generally vertical axis.

Claim 13

A device in accordance with claim 11 wherein two of said orifice-inducers are located in the bottom portion of said second region so as to direct a stream of cryogen vapor upward so as to intersect with the discharge from each of said pluralities of fan means.

Claim 14

A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein evaporator means which is a part of a mechanical refrigeration system is disposed in said second region and wherein said temperature-sensing means is connected to control means for supplying refrigerant to said evaporation means when the temperature sensed is within a certain predetermined range.

Claim 15

A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cabinet means is formed with a lower entrance opening and an upper exit opening and wherein conveyor means which has a generally helical section is provided for transporting material being cooled through said cabinet means so that it gradually rises from said entrance to said exit.

Claim 16

A device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said cabinet means includes chamber means adjacent said entrance opening for substantially reducing the outflow of cryogen vapor from and the entry of ambient air into said cabinet means at said lower entrance opening.

Claim 17

A device in accordance with claim 14 wherein blower means is provided for circulating cryogen vapor upward in said cabinet means, and means is provided for connecting the suction side of said blower means to said entrance chamber means.

Claim 18

A device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said fan means discharge generally horizontally and in a direction generally concurrent with the direction of movement of material along said helical section of said conveyor means.

Claim 19

A cabinet-type refrigeration device comprising cabinet means defining a first cooling region and a second adjacent region, said first region being partially defined by a pair of parallel vertical walls which extend from the boundary with said second region, a plurality of fan means mounted to discharge gas horizontally which are located at different vertical levels within said cabinet means, refrigeration-generation equipment disposed within said second region which includes orifice means for expanding liquid cryogen and inducer means having a substantially completely open flared entrance located in generally surrounding relationship to said orifice means so that the expanding liquid creates cryogen vapor and induces a secondary circulation of gas within the cabinet, said fan means and said orifice-inducer means being arranged to discharge vapor along one of said parallel walls and to take suction from along the other of said walls and also so there is a flow of vapor through said inducer means even when cryogen is not being expanded, and means for removing cryogen vapor from said cabinet, whereby vapor streams move within said first region in substantially horizontal directions having the general pattern of a cyclone revolving about a vertical axis.

Claim 20

A cabinet-type refrigeration device comprising cabinet means defining a first cooling region and a second adjacent region, said first region being partially defined by a pair of parallel vertical walls which extend from the boundary with said second region, a plurality of fan means mounted to discharge gas horizontally which are located at different vertical levels within said cabinet means, refrigeration-generation equipment disposed within said second region which includes orifice means for expanding liquid cryogen and inducer means having a substantially completely open flared entrance located in generally surrounding relationship to said orifice means so that the expanding liquid creates cryogen vapor and induces a secondary circulation of gas within the cabinet, said fan means and said orifice-inducer means being arranged to discharge vapor along one of said parallel walls and to take suction from along the other of said walls and also so there is a flow of vapor through said inducer means even when cryogen is not being expanded, and means for removing cryogen vapor from said cabinet, whereby vapor streams move within said first region in substantially horizontal directions having the general pattern of a cyclone revolving about a vertical axis.

Claim 21

A refrigeration device which comprises cabinet means defining an enclosure wherein cooling of product takes place and having a lower entrance opening and an upper exit opening, chamber means adjacent said lower entrance opening for substantially reducing the outflow of cryogen vapor and the entry of ambient air into said cabinet means, conveyor means defining a generally helical path for transporting material to be cooled through said cabinet means so that the material gradually rises from said lower entrance opening to said upper exit opening, a plurality of orifice means mounted in said cabinet means for expanding liquid cryogen, means for supplying liquid cryogen to said orifice means, a plurality of inducer means each having a substantially open flared entrance and being located in generally surrounding relationship to one of said orifice means, a plurality of fan means mounted within said cabinet for creating circulation of gas therewithin, said orifice means and said associated inducer means being located in the discharge path of one of said fan means so as to cause a flow of gas through said inducer means even when liquid cryogen is not being expanded, whereby the expansion of liquid cryogen creates cryogen vapor and induces additional circulation of gas, means for sensing the temperature within said cabinet means, means for modulating the continuous flow of liquid cryogen through said orifice means in response to changes in the temperature sensed, and means for removing cryogen vapor from said cabinet means.

Claim 22

A refrigeration device which comprises cabinet means defining an enclosure wherein cooling of product takes place and having a lower entrance opening and an upper exit opening, chamber means adjacent said lower entrance opening for substantially reducing the outflow of cryogen vapor and the entry of ambient air into said cabinet means, conveyor means defining a generally helical path for transporting material to be cooled through said cabinet means so that the material gradually rises from said lower entrance opening to said upper exit opening, a plurality of orifice means mounted in said cabinet means for expanding liquid cryogen, means for supplying liquid cryogen to said orifice means, a plurality of inducer means each having a substantially open flared entrance and being located in generally surrounding relationship to one of said orifice means, a plurality of fan means mounted within said cabinet for creating circulation of gas therewithin, said orifice means and said associated inducer means being located in the discharge path of one of said fan means so as to cause a flow of gas through said inducer means even when liquid cryogen is not being expanded, whereby the expansion of liquid cryogen creates cryogen vapor and induces additional circulation of gas, means for sensing the temperature within said cabinet means, means for modulating the continuous flow of liquid cryogen through said orifice means in response to changes in the temperature sensed, and means for removing cryogen vapor from said cabinet means.

Claim 23

A device in accordance with claim 19 wherein blower means is provided for circulating cryogen vapor upward in said cabinet means, and means is provided for connecting the suction side of said blower means to said entrance chamber means.

Claim 24

A device in accordance with claim 19 wherein said fan means discharge generally horizontally and in a direction generally concurrent with the direction of movement of material along said helical path section of said conveyor means.