Improvements in Ice Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ice Machines.
We, FRANK LEWIS FONDA of 723, East 4th Avenue, ROBERT CORNIELUS
ROACH of 16, First Avenue West, and WALTER HALL UNDERWOOD, all in
Hutchinson, in the County of Reno, and State of Kansas, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an ice machine and is characterized more especially by
the employinent of a compressing cylinder provided with an oscillating shaft
having a wing. The cylinder is formed with heads having each a stuffing box in
which is journaled a shaft on which is secured within the cylinder a radial wing
which serves to compress the gas. The outer ends of the shaft have crank
arms which are connected with the main driving shaft, so as to impart an oscillating
motion to the cylinder shaft and its wing. The cylinder contains a spider formed
with three radial arms and two angular arms extending from the radial arms to the
inner surface of the cylinder. Each of the arms is formed at its outer end with a
flange secured to the inner surface of the cylinder to prevent leakage. The several
arms of the spider extend from one end of the cylinder to the other so as to form
longitudinal chambers, of which one is the compressing chamber and extends
between two of the radial arms which are arranged at, or nearly at, right angles to
cach other. The wing oscillates in this chamber, its sides moving close to the top
surfaces of the arms so as to fully expel all its contents. Suction chambers are
formed at the sides of the other radial wing, the said chambers being connected
with each other by apertures in the wing, so as to form a single chamber. Other
chambers formed by the other arms constitute discharge chambers for the com-
pressed fluid. The suction chambers are connected with the compressing chamber
by suction valves secured in the radial arms. The discharge chambers are also
connected with the compressing chamber by discharge valves which are located at
opposite sides of the angular arms and secured in the radial arms. The suction
valve opens inward while the discharge valve opens downward, the valves proper,
when seated, being flush with the top surfaces of the arms.
In order to keep the compression chamber cool, a water receptacle is secured to
the top of the cylinder said receptacle being connected with a suitable source of
supply and provided with an overflow pipe, the supply and overflow pipes being
arranged in opposite ends of the reservoir. A fluid inlet pipe, provided with
a regulating valve, leads into one of the suction chambers and from the discharge
chambers two pipes extend upward through the water in the reservoir and connect
with a transverse pipe which is provided on one end with a valve for connecting
or disconnecting the pipes. From the transverse pipe there extends upward a pipe
which discharges into an oil trap provided with a strainer or sieve so as to divide
the oil trap into two compartments of which the lower one serves to catch the oil
and is provided with a draw-off cock while the upper one is connected with the end
of a coil of pipe forming a condenser in connection with a spraying tank having a
perforated bottom and located over the said coil of pipe. The other end of the coil
of the pipe connects with a filter having a strainer and filled with a suitable filtering
material to purify the fluid or freezing mixture. From the bottom of the filter a
pipe leads to a coil passing through a brine tank to cool the brine therein in the
The pipe after leaving the tank leads to the suction pipe and the
fluid is returned to the compressor and used over again. The pipe which discharges
into the oil trap, can be directly connected with the auction pipe by means of a
valved pipe provided for the purpose. A similar pipe is arranged to connect the
pipe connecting with one of the discharge chambers with the suct.on valve,
usual manner.

page_text: the said pipe being also provided. with a valve. The two pipes leading from the
discharge chambers can also be connected with each other by a small pipe provided
with valves.
In order to prevent leakage in the wing the latter is provided with spring-pressed
packing strips which project from the ends in contact with the heads and the inner
surface of the cylinder. One of these spring-pressed packing strips is also
provided in the longitudinal groove formed in the spider at the junction of the
radial arms to press against the inner edge of the wing or piston. The stuffing box
is provided with an oiler connected with an oil pump, to force a lubricant through
the said oiler and through apertures in the stuffing box on to the cylinder shaft so
as to lubricate the latter.
The operation is as follows: When the main driving shaft is rotated an oscil-
lating motion is given to the cylinder shaft so that the wing swings from one radial
arm to the other, thereby sucking in the fluid through the suction valves,
compressing the fluid on the return stroke, and finally discharging the compressed
fluid through the discharge valves into the chambers from which it passes through
the pipes into the oil trap. The fluid passes from the oil trap through the coil of
pipe of the condenser, and after being cooled passes through the filter into the coi!
of pipe in the tank, there cooling the brine contained in the tank in the usual
manner. The suction caused by the oscillating wing draws the used gas from the
coil of pipe, in the tank, back to the cylinder, to be again compressed in the manner
above described. Thus a continuous operation is carried on, the fluid being used
over and over again.
By constructing the cylinder in the manner described, the leakage usually
occurring in cylinders and reciprocating pistons is entirely avoided. The upper
part of the cylinder containing the compression chamber is kept cool by the water
circulating in the reservoir while the lower part of the cylinder is cooled by the gas
coming into the chambers. Thus the chambers are always full of gas and a rush of
the latter through the suction valves is avoided. The valves within the compressing
cylinder can at any time be readily examined, by simply removing one of the
cylinder heads. The construction of the entire machine is very durable and simple
and it requires only a small amount of power for operating, thus saving considerable
'fuel. As the gas returned from the brine tank passes into the bottom chambers, no
liquid ammonia is liable to flow into the compressing chamber. As the discharge
pipes pass through the water in the reservoir, the temperature of the gas in the
said pipes is reduced considerably previous to passing into the coil of pipe of
the condenser, so that considerable water is saved in the latter in cooling the coil
of pipe. As the wing only, oscillates, the machine can be run at a higher rate of
speed than where the ordinary cylinder and a reciprocating piston are used.
The system of pipes and valves are used for pumping gas from the condenser to
the brine tauk. In order to do this, certain of the valves being closed and opened
successively. The machine is now started in the ordinary manner so that all the
gas is pumped out of the condenser. After this is accomplished, certain of the
valves are closed to cut-out the condenser, for repairs or other purposes, without
loss of gas.
When it is desired to repair, or perform other work on, the machine, the valves
are regulated so that a vacuum in the condenser may be produced and all, or
nearly all, the gus will then escape out of the compressing chambers and pass
through pipes to the oil trap and from the latter to the condenser. The compresser
being almost free of gas, can be conveniently, examined or repaired, the gas being
mostly contained in the brine tank-pipes and condenser.
!
F. L. FONDA,
R. C. ROACH,
W. H. UNDERWOOD,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
153, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
7

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ice Machines.
We, FRANK LEWIS FONDA, Mechanical Engineer, of 723, East 4th Avenue,
ROBERT CORNIELUS ROACH, Weight Inspector, of 16, First Avenue West, and
WALTER HALL UNDERWOOD, Superintendent of Packing Company of
Hutchinson. all in Hutchinson, in the County of Reno, and State of Kansas,'
United States of America, 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:—
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved ice machine which
is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, requiring a small
amount of motive power for driving it, and preventing leakage of the gas.
The invention consists of a compressing cylinder provided with an oscillating
shaft having a wing.
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement, parts being in section.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the cylinder on the line 2-2 of
Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of one of the cylinder heads and
stuffing boxes.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spider for the cylinder.
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the suction valve.
Figure 7 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the discharge valve.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the cylinder shaft and its wing, parts
being in section, and
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the same.
The improved ice machine is provided with a cylinder A formed with heads B B
having each a stuffing box C in which is journaled the cylinder shaft D on which
is secured within the cylinder A a radial wing E serving to compress the gas.
The outer ends of the shaft D are mounted to turn in suitable bearings and are
provided with crank arms D' connected by links D' with crank arms D³ secured
on a main driving shaft D* receiving a rotary motion in any suitable manner, so as to
impart an oscillating motion to the cylinder shaft D and its wing E. In the
cylinder A is secured a spider F formed with three radial arms F F F³ and two
angular arms F F extending from the arms F1 F2 to the inner surface of the
cylinder A as is plainly shewn in Figure 3. Each of the arms F F F F¹, F³,
is formed at its outer end with a flange Fe bolted or otherwise secured to the inner
surface of the cylinder A to prevent leakage in the cylinder. The several arms of
the spider F extend from one end of the cylinder to the other so as to form
longitudinal chambers A', A2, A3, A4, and A5, of which the chamber A' is the
compressing chamber and extends between the arms F and F which are arranged
at, or nearly at, right angles to each other. The wing E oscillates in this
chamber A' its sides moving close to the top surfaces of the arms F1 and F2 so as
to fully expel all the contents of the chamber A'. The chambers A3 and A' are
formed at the sides of the wing F and the said chambers are connected with each
other by apertures F formed in the said wing F. The chambers A² and A³ thus
form a single suction chamber. The chambers A* and A' are the discharge

page_text: chambers for the compressed fluid. The suction chambers A and A³ are connected
with the compressing chamber A' by suction valves G, see Figures 3, 6, 7, secured
in the arms F and F. The discharge chambers A' and A³ are also connected
with the compressing chamber A' by the discharge valves H shewn in Figures 3,
8, and 9. The said valves G and H are located at opposite sides of the arms F
and F and are secured in the arms F1 and F, as is plainly indicated in Figures 3
and 5. As shewn in Figures 6 and 8 the suction valve G opens inward while the
discharge valve H opens downward, the valves proper when seated being flush with
the top surfaces of the arms F1 and F2 respectively. In order to keep the
compression chamber A¹ cool, a water receptacle I is provided secured on top of
the cylinder A and receiving its water supply through a pipe I' connected with a
suitable source of water supply. An overflow pipe I also leads from the reservoir 1.
to carry off the surplus water, the pipes I and I being arranged in opposite ends
of the reservoir 1 as is plainly shewn in Figure 1. Into one of the chambers A²
or A leads the fluid inlet pipe J provided with the valve J' for regulating the
amount of fluid to be sucked into the said chambers A2 and A*. From the
discharge chambers A' and A lead the two pipes K and K' extending upward
through the water in the reservoir I both connecting with a transversely extending
pipe K provided at each end with a valve K³ for connecting or disconnecting the
pipes K and K with or from the pipe K². From the latter extends upwards a
pipe K which discharges into an oil trap L (Figure 1) provided with a strainer
or sieve L' so as to divide the oil trap into two compartments L2 and L³ of
which the lower one serves to catch the oil and is provided with a draw-off
cock L while the upper one is connected with the end of a coil of pipe N
forming a condenser in connection with a spraying tank N' having a perforated
bottom and located over the said coil or pipe N. The other end of the coil
of the pipe N connects with a filter O having a strainer O¹ and filled with a
suitable filtering material to purify the fluid or freezing mixture. From the
bottom of the filter O leads a pipe P formed into a coil extending in the brine
tank to cool the brine therein in the usual manner. The pipe P after
leaving the tank Q leads the fluid to the suction pipe J to be returned to the
compresser and used over again. The pipe K* can be directly connected with
the suction pipe J by means of a pipe R containing a valve R'. A similar
pipe R is formed to connect the pipe K with the suction valve J the said
pipe being also provided with a valve R* the pipes K and K'_can_also be
connected with each other by a small pipe R containing valves Rs. In order
to prevent leakage in the wing E the latter is provided with spring pressed
packing strips E (shewn in detail in Figures 10 and 11) projecting from the
ends and pressed in contact with the heads B and the inner surface of the
cylinder. One of these spring-pressed packing strips is also provided in
the longitudinal groove formed in the spider at the junction of the arms F1 F2
to press against the inner edge of the wing or piston E. The stuffing box C,
shewn in detail in Figure 4, is provided with an oiler C¹ connected with an oil
pump to force a lubricant through the said oiler and through apertures in the
stuffing box on to the cylinder shaft D so as to lubricate the latter.
The operation is as follows:-When the several parts are in the position shewn
in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the main driving shaft D is rotated, then an oscillating
motion is given to the cylinder shaft D so that the wing E swings from one radial
arm For F² to the other, and rice versa, thereby sucking in the fluid through the
suction valves G compressing the fluid on the return stroke and finally discharging
the compressed fluid through the discharge valves H into the chambers A' and A³,
from which the fluid passes through the pipes K K¹ to the pipe K2 and from the
latter to the pipe K' into the oil trap L. The fluid passes from the oil trap L
through the coil of pipe N of the condenser and after being cooled passes through
the filter into the coil of pipe P in the tank Q there cooling the brine contained
in the tank in the usual manner. The suction in the chambers A and A' caused
by the oscillating wing E draws the used gas from the coil of pipe in the tank 'Q

page_text: back to the cylinder A to be again compressed in the manner above described.
Thus a continuous operation is carried on the fluid being used over and over
again.
By constructing the cylinder in the manner described, the leakage usually
occurring in cylinders and reciprocating pistons is entirely avoided. The upper
part of the cylinder A containing the chamber A' is kept cool by the water
circulating in the reservoir I while the lower part of the cylinder is cooled by the
gas coming into the chambers A' and A*. Thus the chambers A2 and A* are
always full of gas and a rush of the latter through the suction valves is avoided.
The valves within the cylinder A can at any time be readily examined by simply
removing one of the cylinder heads B. The construction of the entire machine is
very durable and simple and it requires only a small amount of power for operating
thus saving considerable fuel. As the gas returned from the brine tank passes
into the bottom chamber A' and A³ no liquid ammonia is liable to flow into the
compressing chamber A¹. As the discharge pipes K and K¹ pass through the
water in the reservoir I the temperature of the gas in the said pipes is reduced
considerably previous to passing into the coil of pipe N of the condenser so that
considerable water is saved in the latter in cooling the coil of pipe N. As the
wing E only oscillates, the machine can be run at a higher rate of speed than where
the ordinary cylinder and a reciprocating piston are used. The system of pipes
and valves R R R R* and R are used for pumping gas from the condenser N to
the brine tank Q. In order to do this the valves K on discharge pipe K³, as well
as the valve J¹ on the suction pipe J are closed and the valves R¹ R and R' are
opened successively. The machine is now started in the ordinary manner, so that
all the gas is pumped out of the condenser N. After this is accomplished the
valves R R and R are again closed to cut out the condenser for repairs or other
purposes without loss of gas. When it is desired to repair, or perform other work
on, the machine then the valves K³ are opened and valve J' is kept shut and as
there is a vacuum in the condenser all or nearly all the gas will escape out of the
compressing chambers and pass through pipes K K K and K to oil trap L and
from the latter to the condenser. The valves K' are then closed. The compresser
is now almost free of gas and can be conveniently examined or repaired, the gas
being mostly contained in the brine tank pipes and condenser.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. An ice machine provided with a compressing cylinder having an oscillating
wing, substantially as shewn and described."
2. A gas pump for an ice machine, provided with a cylinder having a com-
pressing chamber and a wing oscillating therein, substantially as shewn and
described.
3. A gas pump for an ice machine provided with a compressing cylinder having
a web forming a compressing chamber, suction chambers, and outlet or discharge
chambers, substantially as shewn and described.
4. In an ice machine, the combination, with a compressing cylinder, of a shaft
passing through said cylinder and having an oscillating motion and a wing secured
on the said shaft within the said cylinder to compress the gas therein, substantially
as shewn and described.
5. In an ice machine, the combination, with a compressing cylinder, of a web
held in the said cylinder and forming a compression chamber and suction and
outlet chambers and a wing mounted to oscillate in the said compression chamber,
substantially as shewn and described.
6. In an ice machine, the combination, with a compressing cylinder, of a web
secured in the said cylinder and forming a compression chamber and suction and
outlet chambers, suction valves connecting the said suction chambers with the said
compression chamber, discharge valves connecting the said compression chamber

page_text: with the said outlet chambers and a wing mounted to oscillate in the said com-
pression chamber substantially as shewn and described.
7. In a gas pump for an ice machine the combination, with a compressing
cylinder, of a web secured in the said cylinder and forming a compression chamber
and suction and outlet chambers, suction valves connecting the said suction
chambers with the said compression chamber, discharge valves connecting the said
compression chamber with the said outlet chambers, and a wing mounted to
oscillate in the said compression chamber, and a water reservoir held on top of the
said cylinder on the outside of the said compression chamber, substantially as shewn
and described.
8. In a gas pump for an ice machine the combination, with a cylinder having
compression chamber, of a wing mounted to oscillate in the said compression
chamber and spring-pressed packing strips held on the edges of the said wing and
adapted to engage the heads of the said cylinder and the inner circular surface of
the compression chamber substantially as shewn and described.
9. In an ice machine the combination, with a cylinder provided with heads
having stuffing boxes, of an oscillating shaft passing centrally through the said
cylinder and journaled in the said heads and stuffing boxes, a web held longi-
tudinally in the said cylinder and provided with arms forming with the said
cylinder a compression chamber and suction and discharge chambers and a radial
wing secured on the said shaft within the said compression chamber, substantially
as shewn and described.
10. In an ice machine, the combination, with a cylinder provided with heads
having stuffing boxes, of an oscillating shaft passing centrally through the said
cylinder and journaled in the said heads and stuffing boxes, a web held longi-
tudinally in the said cylinder and provided with arms forming with the said
cylinder a compression chamber and suction and discharge chambers, a radial wing
secured on the said shaft within the said compression chamber, suction valves held
in the said web for connecting the said suction chambers with the compression
chamber and discharge valves held in the said web for connecting the said
compression chamber with the said outlet chambers, substantially as shewn and
described.
11. In an ice machine, the combination, with a cylinder, of a web secured
longitudinally within the said cylinder and provided with two radial arms forming
with the said cylinder a compression chamber, an oscillating shaft passing centrally
through the said cylinder and a radial wing secured on the said shaft within the
said compression chamber, substantially as shewn and described.
12. In an ice machine, the combination, with a cylinder, of a web secured
longitudinally within the said cylinder and provided with.two radial arms forming
with the said cylinder a compression chamber, an oscillating shaft passing centrally
through the said cylinder, a radial wing secured on the said shaft within the said
compression chamber, and suction valves held in the said radial arms, substantially
as shewn and described.
13. In an ice machine, the combination, with a cylinder, of a web secured
longitudinally within the said cylinder and provided with two radial arins forming
with the said cylinder a compression chamber, an oscillating shaft passing centrally
through the said cylinder, a radial wing secured on the said shaft within the said
compression chamber, and discharge valves held in the said radial arms, sub-
stantially as described.
14. In an ice machine, the combination, with a cylinder, of a web secured
longitudinally within the said cylinder and provided with two radial arms forming
with the said cylinder a compression chamber, an oscillating shaft passing centrally
through the said cylinder, a radial wing secured on the said shaft within the said
compression chamber, suction valves held in the said radial arms and discharge
valves held in the said radial arms, substantially as shewn and described.
15. In an ice machine the combination, with a cylinder, of a web secured
slongitudinally, within the said cylinder and provided with two radial arms forming

page_text: with the said cylinder a compression chamber, an oscillating shaft passing centrally
through the said cylinder, a radial wing secured on the said shaft within the said
compression chamber, suction valves held in the said radial arms, discharge valves
held in the said radial arms, and a water tank held on the said cylinder on the
outside of the said compression chamber, substantially as shown and described.
16. In an ice machine, the combination with a cylinder, of a web secured
longitudinally within the said cylinder and provided with two radial arms forming
with the said cylinder a compression chamber, an oscillating shaft passing centrally
through the said cylinder, a radial wing secured on the said shaft within the said
compression chamber, discharge valves held in the said radial arms, a water
reservoir tank held on the said cylinder on the outside of the said compression
chamber, and discharge pipes leading from the said discharge valves through pipes.
in the water in the said reservoir to cool the gases in said pipes, substantially as
shown and described.
17. In an ice machine, the combination with a compresser provided with a
cylinder and oscillating wing therein to compress the gases, of a condenser con-
nected with the discharge of the said gas compresser, and a coil of pipe connected
with the said condenser and also connected with the suction of said compresser,
substantially as shown and described.
18. In an ice machine, the combination with a compresser provided with a
cylinder and oscillating wing therein to compress the gases, of a condenser con-
nected with the discharge of the said compresser, a coil of pipe connected with the
said condenser and also connected with the suction of said compresser, and an oil
trap interposed between the said condenser and compresser, substantially as
described.
19. In an ice machine, the combination with a compresser provided with a
cylinder and oscillating wing therein to compress the gases, of a condenser con-
nected with the discharge of the said compresser, a coil of pipe connected with the
said condenser and also connected with the suction of said compresser, and a filter
arranged in the connecting pipe between the condenser and coil of pipe, substantially
as described.
20. In an ice machine, the combination with a gas compresser provided with
a cylinder and oscillating wing therein to compress the gases, of a condenser
connected with the discharge of the said gas compresser, a coil of pipe connected
with the said condenser and also connected with the suction of said compresser, and
a brine tank in which the said coil of pipe is located substantially as shown and
described.
Dated May 21st 1892.
F. L. FONDA,
R. C. ROACH,
W. H. UNDERWOOD,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.