Improvements in Apparatus for Agitating Water and other Liquids.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Agitating Water and other Liquids.
I, FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Albion Works, 242, York Road, London,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus chiefly intended for agitating water to be
frozen, it may however be used for agitating other liquids.
My said invention comprises improvements in the agitator proper, and in the
means for actuating the agitator said means being so devised that the agitators can
travel with the ice-moulds in those plants where the moulds travel through the
freezing vat.
The chief feature of my improved agitator is that at each rise and fall thereof it
takes up a portion of the surface liquid in the mould or vessel and discharges such
liquid in a more or less fine central stream which sinks through the remaining
liquid in the mould or vessel for a considerable depth and mixes therewith, its place
being taken by fresh liquid rising up the side of the mould or vessel. In this
manner the whole mass of the liquid is very effectively intermixed. In combination
with this form of agitator I use also a chain or rod agitator during the first stages
of the process when making ice for example.
In some cases instead of relying on the penetrating power of the aforesaid central
stream for effecting the transferrence of the liquid from the upper to the lower part
of the mould or vessel I provide a central perforated discharging tube which
extends to near the bottom of the mould or vessel and down which the liquid
discharged from the cylinder flows. When my said agitator with central discharging
tube is used for agitating water that is to be frozen, I make the said central tube
movable vertically so that as the water freezes from the bottom of the mould
upwards the tube will be gradually pushed upwards by striking the ice.
My improved agitator is intended to be used more especially with small moulds
say up to five inches square, but of course I do not confine its use to moulds of
Buch sizes.
I further provide that the surface water shall not become frozen while the
agitator is at work so that the agitation may be maintained until the whole of the
water freezes. This is effected by insulating the upper portions of the moulds
with timber or other suitable non-conductor which is preferably fixed on the
outside of the moulds.
My said invention comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied for example to apparatus for
agitating water to be frozen I provide above each ice-mould a cylinder made of
thin galvanised metal or other suitable material which is for example attached to a
beam which is raised and lowered continuously by suitable mechanism. The lower
end of the cylinder is furnished with a number of perforations adapted to be
covered by an internal valve or valves made of leather, indiarubber, or other
suitable material. Said end of the cylinder is also furnished with a central
opening which is not covered by a valve. When the cylinder is depressed and
pushed into the water it rapidly fills through the many perforations before
mentioned and when the cylinder is next raised, the internal valve operates to
close all the perforations with the exception of the central one from which
opening the water then pours in a stream more or less fine according to the size of
the hole. This stream descends for a considerable distance into the water in the

page_text: mould and mixes therewith, its place at the surface being taken by other water
rising up the sides of the mould.
In combination with this device I employ a chain or rod agitator having discs of
leather, rubber or other suitable material secured thereon at intervals; said chain
or rod is suspended from the cylinder and moves up and down with it.
Besides
the novel combination of cylinder and chain or rod with discs, my invention
comprises a novel mode of securing the discs on the rod. This I effect by means
of strips of rubber, leather or the like strung on the rod one on each side of each
disc and pressed closely against said discs. This mode of fastening the discs I find
to be very simple and very effective.
I use the disc agitator when commencing the freezing operation, that is to say,
when the bulk of water is comparatively large, and especially if it contains much
lime.
When I use the central tube discharger I combine the same with a box or
chamber inside the cylinder and through which the tube can slide. The said box
has a number of perforations formed in its walls which perforations are covered
internally by a rubber, leather or like valve to prevent water passing out of the
box into the cylinder while offering no obstruction to the passage of the water in
the other direction . from the cylinder into the box. The central discharging
tube is also perforated in a large number of places. This apparatus works as
follows, that is to say, when the cylinder is depressed it fills with water as above
described, and when it is raised the water passes out by way of the internal
perforated box and down the perforated discharging tube. This tube is merely
held in place by friction; it is free to slide through the central box and therefore
when in the reciprocation of the whole apparatus the lower end of the tube strikes
the ice as it forms at the bottom of the mould it is pushed up a short distance.
The intermittent ascent of the tube continues until the whole of the water in the
mould is frozen.
The aforesaid devices further cause the water to rise and fall during the freezing
thereof and assist the production of clear or transparent ice.
The beams which carry the cylinders are suspended from a long shaft which
extends the whole length of the freezing vat above the same and is moved up and
down by a suitable rocking shaft. The suspender for each beam is made to slide
on the reciprocating shaft and is separated from its neighbours by distance pieces.
When the contents of the last row of moulds are frozen, these moulds are removed,
and the whole set of remaining moulds are then pushed forward a distance equal to
the width of one mould. A new row of moulds filled with water is then introduced
at the entering end of the vat, the suspender and cylinders of the moulds just
removed being taken to the other end of the vat to accommodate the newly
introduced moulds.
Dated this 10th fantom 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Agitating Water and other Liquids. 45
I, FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Albion Works, 242 York Road, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to apparatus chiefly intended for agitating water to be 50
frozen, it may however be used for agitating other liquids.
My said invention comprises improvements in the agitator proper and in the
means for actuating the agitator, said means being so devised that the agitators can

page_text: travel with the ice moulds in those plants where the moulds travel through the
freezing vat.
The chief feature of my improved agitator is that at each rise thereof it takes up
a portion of the surface liquid in the mould or vessel and discharges such liquid in
a more or less fine central stream which sinks through the remaining liquid in the
mould or vessel for a considerable depth and mixes therewith, its place being taken
by fresh liquid rising up the side of the mould or vessel. In this manner the whole
mass of the liquid is very effectively intermixed. In combination with this form of
agitator I prefer to use also a chain or rod agitator, during the first stages of the
process when making ice for example.
In some cases instead of relying on the penetrating power of the aforesaid central
stream for effecting the transferrence of the liquid from the upper to the lower part
of the mould or vessel I provide a central perforated discharging tube which extends
to near the bottom of the mould or vessel and down which the liquid discharged
from the cylinder flows. When my said agitator with central discharging tube is
used for agitating water that is to be frozen, I make the said central tube movable
vertically so that as the water freezes from the bottom of the mould upwards the
tube will be gradually pushed upwards by striking the ice each time the agitator
descends.
My improved agitator is intended to be used more especially with small moulds
say up to 5 inches square, but of course I do not confine its use to moulds of such
size or shape.
I further provide that the surface water shall not become frozen while the
agitator is at work so that the agitation may be maintained until the whole of the
water freezes. This is effected by covering the upper portions of the moulds with
timber or other bad conductor of heat, or by having the top part of the mould above
the level of the freezing brine contained in the vat.
My said invention comprises other improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a brine tank showing the ice moulds and agitating
apparatus therein, some of the moulds being in section.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section of another tank and stationary moulds.
Figure 4 is a section through an ice mould furnished with a wooden shield enclosing
the agitator.
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through another brine tank in which are two ice
moulds, one frozen up and the other with the ice forming around its sides.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views drawn to a larger scale of three forms of agitator
hereinafter described; Figures 7 and 9 being in section.
Figure 10 is a plan of Figure 9.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the brine tank; B, B are moulds containing the water or other liquid to be
frozen; C, C are the agitators. In Figures 1 and 2 the moulds are suspended from
frames D; which are furnished with wheels D¹ at their ends that rest on rails E.
Said frames with the suspended moulds can thus be moved from one end of the tank
to the other. The agitators are suspended from transverse beams F, one beam
being allotted to each row of moulds. Said beams are suspended by rods F (having
ball shaped heads F) from a slotted tube G which extends the length of the brine
tank and is carried by arms G' secured to a rocking shaft G2. Distance pieces are
placed in the tube G between each pair of adjacent heads F2 to maintain said heads
the proper distance apart while the moulds are being moved in the tank. The
shaft G is rocked by a crank G³ and connecting rod G or other suitable means to
cause the agitators to rise and fall in the moulds. F³, F3 are guide rods secured to
the beams and working through holes in the frames to guide said beams in their
up and down movements.
When the contents of the last row of moulds are frozen, these moulds are

page_text: removed, and the whole set of remaining moulds are then pushed forward by means
of a screw H and hand wheel H, Figure 2, a distance equal to the width of one
mould. A new row of moulds filled with water is then introduced at the entering
end of the vat and the suspender and cylinder of the moulds just removed are taken
to the other end of the vat to accommodate the newly introduced moulds.
My improved agitator according to one form or modification thereof comprises
a cy linder shown most clearly in Figure 7, made of thin galvanized metal or
other suitable material which is attached to the beam F above described. The
lower end of the cylinder is furnished with a number of perforations, which are
covered by an internal valve c or valves made of leather, indiarubber or other
suitable material. Said lower end of the cylinder is also furnished with a central
opening d which is not covered by a valve. When the cylinder is depressed and
pushed into the water it rapidly fills through the perforations b, and when it is next
raised, the internal valve operates to close the perforations h, and the water then
pours from the central opening d in a stream more or less fine according to the size
of the hole. This stream descends for a considerable distance into the water in the
mould and mixes therewith, its place at the surface being taken by other water
rising up the sides of the mould.
Instead of relying on the penetrating power of the central stream of water for
descending to the lower part of the mould I prefer to provide a central discharging
tube e which is perforated with a large number of holes e. Said tube is adapted to
slide through the opening d in the cylinder, its upper end being preferably guided
by another tube see Figure 7 secured to the beam F. The perforated tube is
held in place merely by friction. It is furnished with a small external flange at its
upper end, and the tube is flauged internally at its lower end by which means the
perforated tube is prevented from withdrawing completely from the guide tube.
will be obvious that this perforated tube will serve to conduct the water to a much
lower level in the mould than would be possible were the tube dispensed with and
the penetrating power of the central stream of water only relied upon. As the
water gradually freezes in the mould from the bottom upwards, the aforesaid
perforated tube will strike the ice at each descent of the beam F and will be
gradually pushed upwards through the guide tube, the intermittent ascent of the tube
continuing until the whole of the water in the mould is frozen.
It
In a modification of my agitator shown most clearly in Figure 9 I provide the
cylinder a with a discharge valve g secured to the lower face of a perforated
partition g'. Below the said partition is a discharging tube fixed to the cylinder.
On the down stroke of the beam F the cylinder a is immersed in the water until
the rim thereof sinks below the level of the liquid whereupon the cylinder fills.
The water is prevented by the valve y from entering the cylinder through the
outlet opening as the cylinder is descending; said valve opening downwards allows
the water to flow out, but not to enter the cylinder. To allow the apparatus to rise
as the ice forms in the mould I provide as follows, that is to say, the cylinder a is
suspended by a rod k which passes through a hole in the beam F and is held by a
friction device or clip that grips the rod with sufficient tightness to raise the same
when the beam F is lifted, but which allows the rod to slide comparatively freely
through the same when the lower end of the discharging tube strikes the ice on the
descent of the beam F. I find that a very simple and convenient form of friction device
is made of two strong strips of rubber m (best shown Figures 9 and 10) secured to
the beam F by nails or screws in such a manner that their adjacent edges are bent
upwards and pressed tightly against each other. The rod k will slide upwards
through the clip so formed with comparative case, but will not readily slip down.
Besides the agitator above described I employ a chain or rod agitator
Figures 1, 3 and 8, having dises of leather, rubber or other suitable material n
secured thereon at intervals; said chain or rod may be suspended from this cylinder
and move up and down with it, or it may be carried directly by the beam Fas
shown in Figure 8. I secure the discs n on the rod by means of strips of rubber,
leather or the like n', Figure 8 strung on the rod one on each side of each disc and

page_text: pressed closely against said discs. This mode of fastening the discs I find to be
very simple and very effective.
I use the disc agitator when commencing the freezing operation, that is to say,
when the bulk of water is comparatively large, and especially if it contains much.
lime.
In Figure 3 I have shown the disc agitator side by side with the cylinder
agitator the former would he removed when the process is half completed.
My improved agitating devices cause the water to rise and fall during the
freezing thereof and assist the production of clear.or transparent ice.
To prevent the surface water from freezing while the agitator is at work I
sometimes cover or lag the upper portion of the mould with timber p, Figure 3,
or other had conductor of heat or as shown in Figure 1 the top part of the moulds.
are kept above the level of the freezing brine. In some instances I encircle the
agitator with a wooden shield 2, Figures 4 and 5, to prevent that portion of the
water in which the agitator works from freezing until the rest of the water has.
become frozen. The shield is open at the sides as indicated in Figure 5.
In Figure 3 I have shown two moulds having a wedge shaped section fitted with
two kinds of agitators used at the same time, one extending to the bottom of the
centre part of the mould while the upper part is fitted with shorter agitators all
constructed as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For agitating liquid to be frozen, an apparatus comprising a cylinder having
an inlet valve at the lower end and an outlet opening, and adapted when plunged in
the liquid to be filled by the surface liquid, and when raised to deliver the liquid
in a fine stream, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the aforesaid agitator of a perforated discharging tube
adapted to slide through the cylinder, with or without the guide tube, substantially
as described.
3. The modified form of agitator wherein I provide an outlet valve but no inlet
valve at the lower end of the cylinder, in combination with a discharging tube,.
substantially as described.
4. A chain or rod agitator having the discs secured thereon by upper and lower
rubber, leather or like strips, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the aforesaid agitators, the grip for supporting the same
which allows the agitators to be readily pushed upward, substantially as described..
6. The arrangement for providing movable ice moulds with agitators, substantially
as described.
7. The providing of means to enable agitators to travel with sets of ice moulds,.
from one end of the ice tank to the other, substantially as described.
8. The apparatus for raising and lowering the agitators substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and operating as specified.
Dated this 19th dor of Luna 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..