Heat exchange – Conduit within – or conforming to – panel or wall structure – Means spanning side-by-side tube elements
Patent
1997-04-24
1998-08-25
Flanigan, Allen J.
Heat exchange
Conduit within, or conforming to, panel or wall structure
Means spanning side-by-side tube elements
165DIG498, F28F 122
Patent
active
057974519
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus such as freezers, refrigerators and bottle/can coolers/chillers. The invention particularly relates to an improved condenser for use in such apparatus.
Condensers (heat exchange devices) which remove heat from a refrigerant material and expel it to the atmosphere outwith the refrigeration apparatus are known. Condensers are normally located on a rearmost side of a refrigeration apparatus, and are therefore termed "back condensers".
Known condenser designs are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. These condensers comprise a condenser pipe having a plurality of substantially parallel spaced portions (lengths), adjacent portions being connected by a louvered steel plate. In FIG. 1 adjacent portions are connected by a steel plate, opposing elongate edges of which plate are crimped to respective adjacent portions. In FIG. 2 adjacent portions are connected by a steel plate, elongate edges of the plate being suitably shaped so as to, with an adjacent plate, enclose a portion therebetween, adjacent elongate edges of the plate and the adjacent plate being spotwelded together. In FIG. 3 all portions are connected by a single steel plate, each portion being welded onto the plate.
DE 3121267 (THERMAL-WERKE) discloses a condenser for refrigerators in the form of a serpent pipe having vertical pipe runs, which are joined to a heat conducting plate in order to extend the heat-conducting surface, whereby the plate is shaped so that it also extends the heat conducting surface, the plate providing horizontal cross-pieces arranged alternatively on opposite sides of the plane of the plate.
A number of problems have been found with prior art condensers. One problem is that of efficiency of heat transfer from the refrigerant material within the pipe to the atmosphere.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of the aforementioned problems in the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a condenser for a refrigeration apparatus comprising a pipe for containing a refrigerant, one or more adjacent portions of the pipe being connected by a baffle, characterised in that the baffle provides opposing directions relative to a plane extending between respective adjacent portions of the pipe.
The adjacent portions of the pipe may be spaced substantially parallel one from another.
There may be provided two baffles for connecting the portions of the pipe.
Each baffle may comprise a plate formed so as to provide a plurality of recesses, the recesses being spaced so as to receive respective adjacent portions of the pipe.
Between and along adjacent recesses each baffle may provide a plurality of wall portions, as least some adjacent wall portions of each baffle being disposed in opposing_ directions relative to a plane extending between the respective adjacent portions of the pipe.
Wall portions of each of the two baffles may be in intimate contact with one another. The adjacent portions of the pipe may be spaced at around 31.75 mm centres.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a refrigeration apparatus including a condenser, the condenser comprising a pipe for containing a refrigerant, one or more adjacent portions of the pipe being connected by a baffle, characterised in that the baffle provides a plurality of wall portions, at least some wall portions being disposed in opposing directions relative to a plane extending between respective adjacent portions of the pipe.
The refrigeration apparatus may be, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer, or a bottle/can cooler/chiller, may be of the chest or front opening type, and may be for commercial or domestic use.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a condenser for a refrigeration apparatus comprising a pipe for containing a refrigerant, one or more adjacent portions of the pipe being connected by at least two baffles.
Between adjacent portions of the pipe each baffle may provide a plurality of wall portions, a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3224503 (1965-12-01), Konanz
patent: 4071934 (1978-02-01), Zolman et al.
patent: 5398752 (1995-03-01), Abbot
Ferguson Jr. Gerald J.
Flanigan Allen J.
Norfrost Limited
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