US2708350A - Air circulation system for kitchen unit - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1955 G. L, c. EARLE 2,708,350

AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM FCR KITCHEN UNIT Filed Dec. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Gara/v L. CE2/LE YBY l.

Arro/vfy May 17, 1955 G. 1 c. EARLE AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM FOR KITCHEN UNIT v Filed nec. 4, 19,51

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite States i V`Yarent face AKR CRCULATIN SYSTEM FOP. KITCHEN UNET Guyon L. C. Earle, New York, N. Y.

Application December 4, 195i, Serial No. 259,336

9 Claims. (Cl. 62--117.4)

This invention relates to driers and more specifically to article driers forming one or more parts of a kitchen unit assembly.

in a prior patent of the present inventor, 2,539,613 issued January 30, 1951, there is disclosed an assembly including a kitchen unit of the set-back or L-shaped type. This unit has a lower portion including the lower parts of a refrigerator and of a stove, a towel drier and a sink, an intermediate portion including the upper parts of the stove and refrigerator and a dish drier, and an upper portion comprising cabinets. A long table-top member is located on top of the lower portion and in front of the intermediate portion of the kitchen unit. The liquefying apparatus for the refrigerator is placed in a cabinet above the refrigerator and warm air there from is vented out the back. A clothes drier is positioned behind the unit and receives the warm air from the 1ique fying equipment. The present invention, in one of its primary aspects, relates to improved arrangements for driers forming one or more elements of a kitchen unit assembly which may include a clothes drier.

lt is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved drier arrangement in a kitchen unit assembly including a refrigerator of the set-back or L- shaped type.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide a kitchen unit assembly employing a refrigerator of the set-back or L-shaped type in which the liquefying portion of the refrigerating unit is placed on top of the upper set-back intermediate portion of the kitchen unit under a stepped shelf in the upper portion thereof and the fan of the liqueiier is utilized to provide a novel air circulation in and among various elements of the kitchen unit assembly.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the description proceeds.

These objects are attained in accordance with the invention by providing, by way of example, a kitchen unit assembly having as an important element thereof a refrigerator of the l. -shaped or set-back type comprising a large insulated base cabinet adapted to be refrigerated either by a cooling means placed in the cabinet or by circulation from an evaporator located in the upper, set-back portion of the refrigerator which is provided with shelves and ice cube trays. The liqueiier of the refrigerating unit, which is preferably of the sealed type, is placed on top of the upper set-back portion under a stepped shelf. The liquelier comprises a fan, a condenser and a compressor. The fan of thev refrigerating unit is placed to suck air through `an opening in the front of the upper cabinet space above the upper set-back portion of the refrigerator in such a position that it is behind the door of the upper cabinet. The fan draws the air through the condenser and then forces it over the heated compressor, cooling the condenser and compressor and at the same time warming the air. This warmed air may have any one or more of a variety of outlets from the upper cabinet. One of the main ones is at the side of this cabinet into a dish drying compartment adjacent the upper set back portion of the refrigerator and thence into a towel drying compartment under the dish drier. lvoreover, by means of a duct, warmed air is conveyed either to the side or rear of the lower portion of the refrigerator to dry water of defrosting therefrom collected in a dish or other container. Furthermore, warmed air is caused to flow out one or more openings in the top of the unit and may also pass into a clothes drier compartment at the rear of the kitchen unit.

The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a kitchen unit assembly in accordance with the invention, comprising a kitchen .unit including a set-back refrigerator having a liqueer positioned to set up a novel air circulation within the kitchen unit and through a clothes drier at the rear thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side View, with portions broken away and others in cross-section, of the assembly of Fig. 1 taken from the right;

Fig. 3 is a front view, with portions broken away and others in cross-section, of the arrangement of Fig. 1, this view showing an air duct leading to the lower portion of a cabinet to the left of the refrigerator;

Fig. 4 is a front view, with portions broken away and others in cross-section, of a modification of the arrangement or" Fig. 3, this view showing a duct leading to the clothes drier at the rear of the unit.

Fig'. 5 is a sectional view, iooking from the left, of the assembly or Figs. l and 3 through the dish drier and towel drying compartments;

Fig. 6 is an irregular section taken in planes through lines t-- of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view, with portions broken away and others in cross-section of a portion of the assembly of Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, Fig. l shows, by way of example and in perspective, an assembly itl in accordance with the invention comprising a kitchen unit il and a clothes drier l2, the unit l1 including an shaped refrigerator 13 which has its liquefier 46 positioned and adapted to cause a novel air circulation in the assembly lo. The back le of the kitchen unit 11 is positioned adjacent the side wall l5 of the drier. The kitchen unit il is of the l.shaped or set-back type, that is, one in which the front plane of the intermediate portion lo thereof is placed to the rear (or set-back from) the front planes of the upper portion 17 and of the lower portion l of the unit. The lower portion 18 comprises the lower part i9 of a set-back refrigerator, sink 25?, a towel drying compartment 2l and the lower portion 22 of a set-back stove. The intermediate portion 16 comprises the upper portion 23 of the refrigerator, a dish drying compartment 24 and the upper portion 2S of the stove. The upper portion i7 of the unit comprises shelved cabinets A table-top member 27 having cutout portions for the sink and for the burners 23 of the stove is placed above the lower portion l and in front of the intermediate portion lo. The whole unit il preferabiy rests on a recessed base 2%. A complete kitchen unit of the type briefly described above is disclosed in 2,349,541 issued May 23, 1944 to the present inventor. For convenience 'n shipping and installation, the upper portion 17 of the unit 1l is not fastened to the intermediate portion but is supported from the side wall .l5 or from the drier i2.

Behind the unit li is a space occupied by the clothes drier 12. This comprises (see also Fig. 2) a compartment formed by the side member 15 (preferably having height and length equal to those of the kitchen unit 1l Vthe cabinet 26 and that of the cabinet 23.

and which may be attached to the back 14 of this unit) a similar side member 30, the oor or a bottom member 31, top member or ceiling 32 and end walls 33, the one shown in Fig. 1 being sliding.- The side members and 30 can be of heat insulating and hre-proofing material and preferably are of sound-deadening material as well. They have holes precut to accommodate the various pipes and conduits for the unit 11. They are braced by means of suitable braces and trusses (not shown). Supported from the right hand end member 33 are various clothes-supporting members (not shown infthis application but shown in Earle application Serial No. 652,545 now abandoned). The side wall 15 of the clothes drier has one or more openings or windows 36 therein opposite corresponding openings 37 in the back wall 38 of the upper portion of the refrigerator section of the kitchen unit 11 or in the back wall 39 of the towel drying compartment 21 for purposes which will be described below.

Referring now to the refrigerator 13 for a more deremovable and it supports either entirely or partially the f evaporator (not shown but it is within cabinet 23) and also the liquefying apparatus 46 or a portion thereof (in the upper cabinet 26 of the refrigerator section). The apparatus 46 comprises a compressor 47, a fan 48 and a condenser 49. The condenser 49 is adjacent an opening 64 for the inlet of air into the upper cabinet 26. This opening is preferably located behind the front wall of It may extend the whole width of the cabinet 23 0r it may be much shorter. As shown in the drawing the inlet opening is to the right of the partition member 65 which is adjacent the condenser 49 and is generally vertical and at a right angle to the front of the kitchen unit 11. This partition member extends up to the underside of a set of stepped shelves 50 and serves to prevent recirculation of air in the upper cabinet 26. The air (at room temperature) Ycoming into the opening 64 is directed by the riser 52 for the rst step shelf 51 and by this shelf 51 to the right side of the condenser 49. It is sucked through the condenser by the fan 48 and is directed over the compressoi 47 where it cools the latter and by heat exchange action becomes warmed by it.

The warmed air is directed by the force of the fan in several predetermined directions. A portion is conducted upwardly through an opening 66 in a horizontal shield 67 over the compressor and thence through opening 37 in wall 38 and opening 36 in wall 15 into drier 12 at the rear of the kitchen unit to cause an air circulation therein and/or throughk an opening 71 at the top of cabinet 26. Warmed air can leave the drier 12 through a ue 73 at the top.

Still another portion is directed downwardly from the fan, Some may pass out through an opening behind the front door of the cabinet 26 to the right of the partition 65 but a large part of this air is directed out the lower left side of the cabinet 26V above the cabinet 23 through an opening 69 and is directed downwardly by means of angularly-placed deector 70 into the dish-drier cabinet 24 and thence down into the towel-drying compartment 21. A portion of this air is drawn into duct 68 having an upper opening just under the deflector 70 and a lower opening just overa dish or other container 63 adapted to catch the water of defrosting from the refrigerator evaporator. Merely `by way of example, reference is made to a companion application of the present inventor, Ser. No. 288,293, filed May 16, l952, now abandoned, which shows one way of getting defrost waterout of a refrigerator. The container 63 may be at the side of the refrigerator (see Fig. 3) or at the rear thereof (see Fig. 4) behind wall 39. This forced air circulation into the 4 container 63 causes the water of defrosting to evaporate very rapidly. i

When the fan is offf the air passages enumerated above make it possible to conduct the heat from the compressor away therefrom by permitting a gentle upward tiow of air out the top of the unit. The oif cycle should last about three times as long as the on cycle.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a very eihcient air circulation system for a kitchen unit assembly of the type described herein. It is obvious, however, that various changes can be made in the embodiment described without departing from the spirit of the invention, as indicated in the claims.

What is claimed is: f

l. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator .cabinet positionedk above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueiier including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liqueer for admitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been warmed by contact with said compressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet.

2. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueer including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liquefier for admitting air into said upper cabinet, means for directing air after it has been warmed by contact with said compressor both upward through an upper openingin said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet, and duct means outside said refrigerator for conveying warmed air to a spot near the base thereof to evaporate water of defrosting therefrom.

3. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit cornprising a lower'refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, aliqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said li'quef'ler including a condenser,V

a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liqueiierfor admitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been vwarmed by contact with `said compressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet, said last-mentioned means including a deflector outside said upper cabinet for directing a portion of the air downwardly.

4. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liquefier including a condenser', a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in siad upper cabinet adjacent said liqueer for admitting m'r into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air 5. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit corn-` prising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueer including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liqueer for admitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been warmed by contact with said compressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly throughY a lower opening in said upper cabinet, said last-mentioned means including a deector outside said upper cabinet for directing a portion of the air downwardly through a cabinet positioned at the side of said intermediate set-back refrigerator and thence into a second cabinet under the first cabinet.

6. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueiier unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueiier including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adiacent said liquefier for ade mitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been warmed by contact with said compressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet, said liqueiier being placed under a set of stepped shelves in said upper cabinet and said means for directing the air downwardly including a duct member.

7. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate set-back refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said regfrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueiier including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means deiining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liquefier for admitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been warmed by Contact with said compressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet, said liqueer being placed under a set of stepped shelves in said upper cabinet, the space under said shelves being generally separated into two portions by a partition in a plane generally perpendicular to the front of said refrigerator to prevent recirculation of air in said space.

8. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setback refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueiier including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liqueer for admitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been warmed by contact with said cornpressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet, said liqueiier being placed under a set of stepped shelves in said upper cabinet, the space under said shelves being generally separated into two portions by a partition in a plane generally perpendicular to the iront of said refrigerator to prevent recirculation of air in said space and having an apertured horizontal shield member therein above said compressor.

9. A mechanical refrigerator and cabinet unit comprising a lower refrigerator cabinet, an intermediate setbaci; refrigerator cabinet positioned above and to the rear of said lower cabinet, an upper cabinet above said intermediate cabinet, a liqueer unit for said refrigerator in said upper cabinet, said liqueer including a condenser, a compressor and a fan, means defining an opening in said upper cabinet adjacent said liqueer for admitting air into said upper cabinet, and means for directing air after it has been warmed by contact with said compressor both upwardly through an upper opening in said upper cabinet and downwardly through a lower opening in said upper cabinet, at least one of said openings leading to a drier cabinet at the rear of said refrigerator and said means for directing the air downwardly including a duct member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS

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