US1920082A - Container for refrigerant - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1933- w. s. JosEPHsoN CONTAINER FOR REFRIGERANT Filed Deo. 3l, 1929 R O T N E V m Patented July 225,` 19,33

I .UNITED STATES PATENT or-rlcl-z`l WALTER S. JOSEPHSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASS-IGNOB T DRYICE CORPORA- TION 0F AMERICA., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CONTAINER FOR REFRIGERANT Application flledDeeember 31, 1929. Serial No. 417,637.

This invention relates to refrigerating packages or containers, and is especially adapted for use with a refrigerant suchA as hydrated solid carbon dioxide as described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 399,911.

The invention also relates to a method of refrigerating which, while adaptable to any kind of refrigerant, is most advantageously remployed with the hydrated solid carbon 2@ preferably made of a good heat conducting material although the housing or shell may be, and for best results should beof poor heat conducting material. The reentrant element is adapted, both as to material of which it is composed and as to the form in which it is constructed to receive a 'solid refrigerant. I have already pointed out in my said copending application for patent upon hydrated solid carbon dioxide and 2 upon various devices for employing this refrigerant, that a large portion of the moisture content of the refrigerant will, on melting of the refrigerant block, build up on the surface of the .block as a blanket of water snow of a thickness dependent upon the volume of the block and upon its moisture content. The blanket,- so deposited, is of a temperature of ordinary water snow or ice m on its outer limit, namely, 32 F.

It acts, however, as a thermostatic control preventing the rapid melting ofV the block or stick, for although ithas a temperature of 32 F. on its outer limit, the blanket temperature rapidly descends upon its inner l5 margin where is contacts with the block,

to approximately the temperature of the block, or about 109 F.

The present invention contemplates a shell preferably of cardboard or other material of D poor heat conducting properties and which may be of cylindrical conformation and a reentrant element of preferably tubular form closed o from the interior space of the shell. The side of the shell with which the reentrant element connects may be either of the same material as the shell or of another material having better heat conducting properties. It may be of the same material as the reentrant element which should have good heat conducting properties and for this, commercial sheet tin is satisfactory.

The invention will be clearly understood from the drawing in which Fig. I shows, in sectional elevation, a container of the present invention adapted to ice cream and F ig. II shows a plan view thereof.

Referring to Fig. I, 1 represents a shell preferably of cardboard having an interior space, 2, which is the space to be refrigerated, surrounding the reentrant element or refrigerant receptacle, 3, the said reentrant element, being composed preferably of tin sheet and integral with the bottom of said shell with which it unites at 4. The reentrant element protrudes up through the center of the container and is shown concentric therewith. A stopper, 5, of cork or `other material having perforations, 6, closes the refrigerant receptacle, but allows the escape of gas from the melting block through the perforations.

When the material to be refrigerated, I

such as ice cream is closely packed into the space, 2, surrounding and in contact with the reentrant element or refrigerant receptacle, 3, which is out of communication with space, 2, a stick or block of refrigerant such as hydrated solid carbon dioxide is inserted into the receptacle, 3, and closed by means of the cork or stopper, 5. A covering, 7, is then placed over the top of the container and another cover, 8, having an opening or openings, the openings therein corresponding to the openlngs, 6, through the cork, 5, but not necessarily registering therewith is placed in position over the bottom of the container.

Fig. II showing the bottom of the container proper illustrates the preferred cyhndrical -form of the package. The bottom of vso the shell, or container, 1, has a central opening through which the reentrant element or refrigerant receptacle, 3, penetrates. This receptacle which is made of tin or other similar heat conducting material joins with the bottom at, 4. l.

The function of the device is obvious from the dravving and the description above given in connection therewith.

vThe refrigerant, hydrated solid carbon dioxide, may be made at some place other than the place Where the container is to be packed, and is compressed in a hard -solid stick or block and in that form inserted into `the reentrant element or refrigerant receptacle, 3. As the refrigerant melts and gives oli" hydrated carbon dioxide in gaseous form a very considerable pressure would take place within the reentrant element or refrigerant receptacle due to the enormous expansion of the hydrated gas coming off from the block, were it not for the fact that the openings, 6, through the stopper, 5, and through' the bottom cover, 8, permit the gas expanding from the melting solid to escape. f

The invention comprises a method as well as the specific device hereinabove disclosed. In my saidl copending application Serial No. 399,911, I have described and claimed a refrigerating material, hydrated solid c arbon dioxide. This material consists of carbon dioxide and moisture. which have been solidly compacted and in which the moisture content has been predetermined. As the solid melts the moisture content is given off in gaseous form with gaseous carbon dioxide but a considerable portion thereof immediately condenses upon the surface of the solid in a water snow blanket the thickness of which depends upon the volume of the solid and the 'percentage of moisture` therein.

The thickness of the Water snow blanket, therefore, can be predetermined by predetermining the factors on which it depends. I have found that when this blanket is from one half inch to one and a half inch thick, it has a temperature on the outside of 32 F. and that its temperature descends sharply toward the block until it is approximately 109 F. where it contacts with block. The temperature of the outside may be increased or diminished in accordance with the greater or less thickness of'the water snow blanket. Moreover, the pores of the Water snow are filled with carbon dioxide gas given off from the block. The effect of the water snow blanket thus permeated with the carbon dioxide gas, which is a very poor heat conductor, is that of a natural thermostatic control.

my hydrated solid carbon dioxide With ol'- it co'uld be cut only by the most forceful methods.

On the other hand, if instead of dry solid carbon dioxide, the hydrated solid carbon d1- oxide of my said copending application Were placed in the reentrant receptacle, thethickness of the water snow blanket can be predetermined by predetermining the percentage of moisture in the block or stick. It is thus possible to obtain any desired predetermined temperature to keep the materials to be refrigerated in the most desirable condition for use. y

In the reentrant receptacle of the container, a refrigerant may be placed as desired Which contains either a preponderance of carbon dioxide or a preponderance of moisture. Indeed, pure dry carbon dioxide solid may be employed and so may ordinary water ice, if the conditions of time of refrigeration and degree of temperature during that time require one or the other. It is assumed, however, that the container will be particularly serviceable and find its most valuable uses with the hydrated solid carbon dioxide of my said copending application.

The container of the present invention may obviously be made in any size or shape to contain any materials it is desired to transport either by hand or otherwise and which must be refrigerated during transport. It is also obvious that the reentrant receptacle may be of any shape or relative size relative to the shape or size of the shell ofthe container. Many other modifications of the device may also be made without de arting from the scope of the invention allo which I desire to claim.

What I claim is 1. A method of refrigerating at moderate relatively high, relatively constant temperatures, which method includes absorbing heat through the walls of a container and applyr ing it to effect phase changing action of low melting point solid carbon dioxide-intimately associated with rela-tively high temperature phase changing moisture, thereby depositing an insulating, moderate-temperature blanket of frozen moisture on the solid as it passes from its interior, variably heating the exterior surface of said container by en-l closing a product to be refrigerated in contact with said surface, thereby removing iso moisture from the surface of said blanket at ture blanket of frozen moisture on the solid as it passes from its interior, variably heating the exterior surface of said container by enclosing a product to be refrigerated in contact with said surface, thereby. removing moisture from the surface of said blanket at rates varying automatically with variations in heat applied by the product; and draining all excess gas or moisture downward and discharging it into the exterior atmosphere.

WALTER S. JOSEPHSON.

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