Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, JACOB ERNY of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania in the United States of
America, Chemist 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 :-
This invention has relation to an apparatus for refrigerating purposes and for
the artificial production of ice, and has for its object the provision of novel means
whereby in a freezing or refrigerating machine in which the refrigeration is produced
by the expansion of a suitable gas, the said gas, which may be ammoniacal gas, is
liberated by heat from its aqueous solution, condensed by cold, liquefied by pressure,
expanded so as to produce the requisite lowering of temperature for the refrigerating
or freezing operation, and finally brought into contact with water, by which it is
re-absorbed, such operation being continued until all, or nearly all, the gas has been
transferred from the aqueous medium in which it was originally held in solution,
to the body of water in which it is absorbed, after performing its function, where-
upon the heat is transferred from the aqueous solution in which the gas was
originally held, to the solution in which it has been absorbed, and a retransfer of
the gas thereby effected, through the same course which it took in the first instance,
resulting in a continuous freezing or refrigerating operation.
The accompanying drawing, illustrates our improved apparatus, by means of
which our novel method of refrigerating is carried into effect.
The drawing represents a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the complete
apparatus.
A and A, designate two similar vessels made of extra heavy material, such as
iron, and adapted to contain aqua-ammonia, or other suitable solution.
B designates a similarly constructed vessel arranged in such relation to the
vessels A, A', that the bottom of the vessel B, shall be elevated above the tops
of the vessels A, A¹, the latter being arranged at the same level, one with the
other.
From the tops of the cylinders A, A', pipes a, a, lead and are joined at a¹ and.
from thence lead upward and over the cylinder B, and extend downwards, into the
latter nearly to its bottom, say about nine-tenths of its length. Each of the pipes a,
is provided with a check valve a³, and with a stop cock a³ and a respectively,
the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. A back flow pipe d, leads
from the cylinder B, and branching at d leads to and connects with the pipes a, a,
just above the tops of the cylinders A, A'. Tho branched portions of the pipe d
are each formed with a trap d', and a stop cock d³, and the upper end of said pipe
passes through the bottom of the cylinder B, and rises within said cylinder about
one-fourth the length of the latter. From the top of the cylinder B, a pipe b, leads
outward and is formed into a coil or worm b', which is contained within a cooling
Vessel D, through which water is caused to flow from a suitable source of supply.
The pipe constituting the coil or worm, is continued so as to lead into the top of a
cylinder C, made of metal and of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of
its expansible contents. Between the coil b', and the cylinder C, the pipe b³,
leading from the former, is furnished with a suitable check valve h, which prevents
a back flow of gas from the cylinder C, to the coil.
E designates a suitable freezing coil, which communicates with the cylinder C,
at the bottom of the latter, through a pipe i, in which is a valve or cock i³.
From the extremity of the freezing coil E, a pipe F, proceeds to the vicinity
of the cylinders A A¹, and is provided with a check valve k, and branching
at F, leads by branches F³, F, which are provided with stop cocks f' f', to

page_text: the tops of the cylinders A A³, and down into the same, nearly to the bottoms
thereof..
Within each of the vessels A, A¹, is arranged a steam coil and suitable cocks, on
the pipes leading to the said steam coils permit of steam being turned on either of
the coils as required.
The apparatus being constructed as described, and with the cylinder A, partially
filled with aqua ammonia, and the cylinder B, charged with the same solution to
about the level of the pipe 6, the operation is as follows:-The cylinder A, being
heated by means of the steam coil G, the gas is liberated from the ammoniacal
solution, and passes through the pipe a, into the cylinder B, the cock a' on branch
of pipe a, leading to cylinder A being open, while the cock on the branch leading
from cylinder A¹, is closed, and any moisture carried over with the gas is condensed,
and carried back through the pipe d, into the vessel A; the gas then passes from
the cylinder B, into, and through, the coil or worm 61, wherein it is condensed and
liquefied, and from which it flows into the cylinder C, and from which it expands
continuously through the valve i¹, into the freezing coil E. When all or nearly all
of the ammoniacal gas has been distilled from the cylinder A, the heat is turned
off and the cylinder is allowed to cool.
The valve, leading to the freezing coil being kept opened slightly, as above
described, the contents of the cylinder C are gradually and slowly admitted to the
freezing coil E, wherein the liquefied ammonia expands and instantly reduces the
temperature of the freezing coil to a very low degree. From the freezing coil,
the gas passes by way of the pipe F and the branch F³, to the cylinder A' where
it is absorbed by a body of cold water contained in said cylinder, the cock f', of
branch F, being closed, so as to prevent the gas passing to cylinder A.
After all or nearly all the gas has passed as described from the cylinder A,
through the freezing system to the cylinder A¹, and the cylinder A and its liquid
contents having been allowed to cool, the cock as is closed, and the cock a' is
opened, and the cock f is closed, and the cock f' is opened. The steam is now
turned on to the coil in cylinder A¹, and the operation proceeds as before
the course of the gas being the same, through the condensing coils and chambers
and the freezing coils as before, but the gas now going from the cylinder A', to the
cylinder A.
As often as required, the transfer of the gas from one of the cylinders A, A', to
the other is effected in the described manner, and thus a practically continuous
freezing operation is carried on.
While I have stated that after the gas has been caused to pass over from one of
the evaporating vessels A or A¹, to the other, the vessel from which the gas has
been caused to pass by the application of heat, is allowed to cool; I prefer to
accelerate the cooling operation by the application of a cooling medium, such as
cold water, and to accomplish this end, I place upon each of the steam pipes leading
to the coils G, G', a three way cock or valve H with a branch pipe 1, leading
to a source of supply of cold water, such as an ordinary street main, or to any
other reservoir or vessel from which a supply of a suitable cooling medium may
be obtained.
By means of the three-way cock H and the supply pipe I, the contents of the
vessels A, A', are speedily and positively cooled, the cock being so constructed
and arranged, that as soon as the steam has been turned off, the cold water or
other cooling medium is caused to flow through the steam coil G, or G³, in lieu of
the steam.
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 :-
First In an apparatus for cooling or refrigerating, the combination with the
vessel B, the cooling coil or worm 6', the liquid storage vessel C, and the freezing
coil of the twin
T
A
A

page_text: and to the freezing coil E, by pipes provided with suitable cocks, whereby vapour
may be passed from either of the vessels A, or A¹, to the other, following the
same course through the freezing coils, substantially. as described.
Secondly-In an apparatus for cooling or refrigerating, the combination of
the twin evaporating vessels A, A', the coils G, G¹, contained in said vessels and
steam and water pipes connected to said coils, with the drying vessel B, the
condensing coil &, connected therewith, the liquid storage vessel C, connected to
said condensing coil, the freezing coil E, connected to said liquid storage vessel,
and suitable pipes provided with cocks or valves, and connecting each of the said
twin evaporating vessels with both the drying cylinder, and the freezing coil,
substantially as described.
Thirdly-In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a condensing coil,
a vessel in which anhydrous ammonia is stored under pressure, and a conduit for
expanded ammonia in communication with said vessel, a branched pipe leading from
said conduit, twin generators connected to the branches of said pipe, means for
alternately heating and cooling each of said generators, a branched pipe leading
from said generators to the condensing coil, and a pipe connecting the latter with
the vessel in which ammonia is stored, all constructed and arranged substantially as
described.
JACOB ERNY.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.