Improvements in Refrigerating and Ice-making Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refrigerating and Ice-making Apparatus.
A communication from abroad by THE DE LA VERGNE REFRIGERATING
MACHINE COMPANY, foot of 138th Street, New York, United States of
America, Engineers.
I, LOUIS STERNE, of the Crown Ironworks, North Woodside Road, in the
County of Glasgow, North Britain, 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, that is to say :-
This invention relates to the class of refrigerating and ice-making apparatus in
which a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion coil are employed, and in
connection with which a liquid base or oil seal is used for sealing and lubricating
the valves and working parts of the compressor. The objects of the invention
are to improve the construction and arrangement of the suction and discharge
valves and piston rod stuffing box of the compressor, to provide the pressure tank,
into which the compressor discharges, with certain improved details, and to
improve the apparatus generally.
Apparatus embodying the improvements is shown on three accompanying sheets
of explanatory drawings, Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, thereof being a sectional side
elevation of the apparatus, and Figure, 2, an end elevation of the compressor
showing the application of certain parts.
Figure, 3, on Sheet, 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the compressor.
Figure, 4, on Sheet, 3, is a plan of a cap or head on the pressure tank, Figure, 5,
being a transverse vertical section of the same, as taken at the line a-b in Figure, 4;
and drawn to a larger scale.
Figure, 5, is a vertical section of the cap or head and some other details of the
pressure tank, drawn to a larger scale.
Figure, 7, is an elevation of the pressure tank.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
As shown in the drawings the compressor, A, is horizontal and it may be driven
by means of any suitable motor. The pressure tauk, B, into which the oil and
gas are discharged from the compressor, A, and the condenser, C, into which the
gas passes, after being separated from the oil in the pressure tank, are connected
to the compressor and to each other by pipes in a usual way. The tank, D, for
receiving the liquid ammonia after being condensed, and from which it passes to
the expansion coil (not shown) is also placed and connected to the various parts of
the apparatus in a usual way. A pipe, E, leads from the ammonia tank, D, to a
point near the compressor, A, where it is provided with a stop valve, G, which,
when open, communicates by a short connection, H, with the suction pipe, J,
leading from the expansion coil back to the compressor so as to admit the liquefied
ammonia from the pressure side of the apparatus to the suction pipe leading into
the compressor for the purpose of cooling the same to a desired degree. The
stop valve, G, is adjusted to regulate the amount of liquid entering the
compressor, A.
The compressor, A, is fitted with suction or inlet valves, K, on its upper side
beyond the barrel ends, these valves opening to recesses, L, in the barrel
covers, M, and being pressed against their seats, R, by helical springs, N,

page_text: encircling the spindle guide bosses, P, and acting between shoulders on the ends
of the spindles, Q, and flanges connecting the bosses to the cylindrical valve seats.
Pins, S, are provided on the compressor covers, M, to prevent the valves, K,
(should they be broken) from entering the compressor, A.
The compressor, A, has fitted in its lower side discharge valves, T, placed at
the extreme ends of the compressor barrel. The valves, T, are pressed against
their seats, TI, by helical springs, N, which encircle the spindle guide bosses, P,
and allow the valves to open and discharge the gas, when compressed within the
compressor, A. The discharge valves, T, being in the lower part of the compressor
discharging is thereby facilitated.
The piston rod stuffing box has two sets of metallic packings, V, between which
is placed a lantera brass or annular piece, V 1, with lateral openings, V 2, through
which lubricant gets access to the rod, V 3. The lubricating oil is supplied to the
stuffing box from the pressure tank, B, by means of a pipe, V 4, the pipe com-
municating with a longitudinal channel, V5, formed in the stuffing box in
communication with the openings, V 2, in the lantern brass. A similar channel
and pipe are arranged on the lower side of the stuffing box for the lubricant to
pass off, the pipe being provided with a valve or cock, V 6, (Figure, 1) which can
be adjusted as required.
The compressor being double acting operates in the usual manner so as to effect
the discharge of the compressed gas at each end through the discharge valves, T.
The gas being discharged from the compressor enters the pressure tank, B, which
is provided with a cap or head, B 1, to which the pipes from the compressor lead.
Inside the cap, B 1, a deflecting flange or plate, B 2, is formed, against which the
oil and gas discharged from the compressor strike immediately on entering the
pressure tank. The deflecting flange, B 2, directs the oil and gas into a channel
formed by bending a metal plate, B 3, helically round a central pipe, B4, fixed to
the cap, B 1. The helical plate, B3, is fixed to the cap, B 1, and the pipe, B 4, by
an angle iron, B 5. The helical path which the oil and gas are compelled to take
induces centrifugal action which separates the oil from the gas, the gas remaining
near the centre of the tank and passing by ths central pipe, B4, to the
condenser, C, while the oil is thrown against the sides of the tank and finally
collects at the bottom.
Parts of the apparatus which have not been described are to be understood as
being constructed and arranged in the usual way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In refrigerating and ice-making apparatus, a double acting compressor
provided with inlet valves on its upper side and beyond the barrel ends, the said
valves being guarded against entering the cylinder by pins substantially as
herein before described.
2. In refrigerating and ice-making apparatus, a double-acting compressor having
its discharge valves on its lower side and arranged and operating substantially as
herein before described.
3. In refrigerating and ice-making apparatus, a double-acting compressor the
piston rod stuffing box whereof is packed with two sets of metallic packings, having
between them a lantern brass, through which lubricant has access to the piston rod
from a channel in the stuffing box fed by pipes from the pressure tank, and through
which lubricant may pass to a channel in the stuffing box communicating with an
outlet pipe provided with a regulating valve substantially as herein before
described.
4. In refrigerating and ice-making apparatus a double-acting compressor having
suction valves located on its upper side and beyond the ends of the barrel in
combination with a suction pipe having communication with the liquid ammonia
pipe whereby the liquefied ammonia may be discharged from the ammonia tank into

page_text: the said compressor for the purpose of cooling the same substantially as hereinbefore
described.
5. In refrigerating and ice-making apparatus combining with the compressor a
pressure tank, into which the compressor discharges, having a cap or head provided
with a deflecting flange or plate and a central pipe partly encircled by a helical
plate substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of October 1896.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.