HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AUDIFFREN-SINGREN The Audiffren was patented by a French Priest and physicist, Father Marcel Audiffren, over 100 years ago in 1894. Its original design was for cooling liquid, such as wine, for his monks. The French patent stated "It can be cranked by hand or driven by an engine". THIS OPERATING MODEL is a slight modification for cooling air instead of liquid. It was constructed about 1932 and may be either an air conditioner or a heat pump depending upon how air is directed. This hermetic differs from conventional hermetic design, originating in the late 1920's, in that refrigerant does not come in contact with motor windings. The effect of refrigerant on hermetic motor windings has always been a problem and now even more so with the present uncertainty about the new, short time field tested, refrigerants. Also, one or perhaps two fan motors can be eliminated by the Audiffren design when used as an air conditioner or heat pump. Valve design is of the rugged scotch-yoke type and therefore could reduce problems with valves. Probably the homeowner himself could supply the only service required. General Electric was licensed to manufacture the Audiffren and from this design G.E. developed the first hermetric household refrigerators to go into quantity production. Could this hundred-year-old design be re-discovered some day and provide another breakthrough for the refrigeration, air conditioning and heating industry?  Company PolicyOnline CatalogSolar Research Division MuseumContact |