IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE-MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon-
and Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, South-
ampton Buildings, London, and 18, Rue Gaillon, Paris, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE-MAKING MACHINES."-A commu-
nication from abroad by Franz Littmann, of Halle an der Saale,
Germany.
Sealed the 15th August 1873, and dated the 5th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th March 1878.
I, WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-
Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 88, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 18, Rue Gaillon, Paris, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE-MAKING MACHINES," to be as
follows:

page_text: The ice machine consists of the following parts:-A gas generator, a
condenser, a second condenser, a collecting vessel, an ice producer, a
refrigerator, a pump, an absorption vessel, and a second gas generator.
The gas generator is an upright boiler made of wrought iron fitted
with a cap, on which is the condenser. There is also fixed on the cap a
nozzle for the purpose of pouring in the material from which the ammo-
niacal gas is obtained. At the bottom of the boiler is fixed a tube for
the purpose of letting out of the boiler the material after it has been
utilised. The nozzle and the tube are hermetically screwed up with a
lid. There is further attached to the boiler a water gauge to indicate
the height of the liquid contained therein; the boiler is bedded in and
provided with a fire-grate.
In order to obtain the necessary ammoniacal gas for the production of
the ice we can either take, 1st, the ammoniacal water obtained in the
gas works by mixing it with 28 % of lime, when, by the warming of 1
this mass, the ammoniacal gas is generated; or we can take, 2nd,
chemically pure ammonia, which, on being warmed, the ammoniacal
gas requisite for the production of the ice escapes, whilst the water itself
remains.
The condenser consists of several divisions of two-joined half-round
cups, which are connected with each other by a flanged pipe. In order
that the gas which goes from the boiler to the condenser should not go
direct through the pipe, there is in all these spaces over each aperture a
half-round cup in the same form as that of which the spaces are formed,
standing only off, inch from the lower cup. Thereby the gas strikes
against this cup. It must make its way round it in order to reach the
second space, and so forth; thereby the whole cooling surface is utilised,
and the vapours of water fall back again towards the boiler. Round
these spaces is a tin cylinder which is tightly screwed on to the bottom
of the lower cup, into which fresh water is continually running through
a tube which almost reaches the bottom for the purpose of cooling the
gas coming out of the boiler. On the top cup is a knee-flanged pipe, to
which is attached a double-armed flanged piping where are the two
cocks, of which one is in connection with the second condenser, and the
other with the refrigerator.
The second condenser is a tin case, in which are several
rows of

page_text: forming a whole. The joint pipe supports two flanged pipes, one flanged
pipe for the purpose of being connected with one of the cocks, and the
other flanged pipe to be connected with the force pump. The joint pipe
has a flanged pipe which is in connection with a flanged pipe of the
$ collectedg vessel. This condenser serves to cool the gas, which either
comes out of the boiler or the pump, for the purpose of facilitating the
liquifying of the gas.
The collecting vessel is made of cast iron, hermetically closed with a
lid, and fitted with two flanged pipes. One is connected with the
O flanged pipe of the joint pipe in second condenser, and the other flanged
pipe is connected with the cock of the ice producer. This collecting
vessel serves for the purpose of collecting the liquid gas, and that there
should be a sufficient supply thereof.
The ice producer consists of a tin box which stands in one of wood,
5 with an intermediate space between them which is filled with ashes. In
the tin box are several serpentine tubes which lead to the joint pipė
'which connects the serpentine tubes as a whole. The joint pipe has a
flanged pipe from which a tube is connected with the serpentine tube of
the cooling vessel, and this is again connected with the pump through a
0 tube. In the interior of the ice producer are fitted up against the two
lateral walls two paddle wheels, which are put in motion by rollers in order
to preserve in an uninterrupted motion the volatile alkali contained
therein, so that the cold should be evenly distributed. Between the
serpentine pipes there are suspended square tin forms which contain the
6 water destined to be frozen. At the top of the tin box is a wooden
frame with a square hole in which the tin forms fit. The box is covered
with wooden lids to prevent the action of the outer temperature.
The cooling vessel is a tin cylinder in which are two serpentine pipes,
one serpentine pipe (at the end of which rests a flange pipe) in order to
0 conduct the gas coming from the ice producer either through a pipe to
the absorption vessel or through another pipe to the tin cylinder for the
purpose of getting rid of the air. Through the serpentine pipe the gas
goes through two tubes, and through a third tube to the pump as the
gas coming from the ice producer continues producing cold along its
5 whole course; the water which is in the cooling vessel is cooled by the
gas traversing the serpentine pipes, and this water is utilised for the

page_text: production of ice, and thereby the production of ice is accelerated, and
the water thus cooled is drawn off through a cock.
The pump is an ordinary double-acting suction or force pump with an
iron cone. On the suction pipe is a double branched pipe with two
cocks, one cock becomes connected with the pipe of the ice producer
and with the pipe of gas generator. The force pipe is connected by a
pipe with the serpentine pipe of the second condenser.
The absorption vessel is an iron cylinder closed hermetically with a lid
in which is a serpentine pipe, through which water is running. On the
lid are two nozzles leading upwards. Through the one nozzle the gas
coming from the ice producer enters, and is connected by a pipe with a
cock in connection with the refrigorator; at the other nozzle the water
which is to be saturated with ammoniacal gas is let in; the manufactured
ammonia is let off by a cock. The vessel is also provided with a water
gauge in order to know the height of the liquid in the vessel. The vessel
serves to manufacture ammonia at the time when the machine is not
working (in the months of the winter); or also when the machine is out of
order, so that it is necessary to get it repaired. In that case the am-
moniacal gas still remaining in the machine must first of all be removed
from it, which is done by the absorption vessel, where the whole gas is
absorbed by the water. This saturated fluid is sent up to a suitable vessel
through a cock, so that when the machine is again in working order this
solution may be filled into the boiler, and the gas may be obtained again
by means of warmth. Through the serpentine pipe of the vessel the cooling
water is allowed to run out of the second condenser, and through pipes to
run off through a cock. Besides these described component parts, three
spring mauometors are still required for the machine; one at the gas
generator shews the pressure oxisting in it, whilst the gas generator filled
by a pipe shows the pressure of the gas in the serpentine tubes of the
condenser and the collecting vessel, so that it should be known exactly
whether there is sufficient liquid gas. Another indicates the pressure
in the serpentine pipes of the ice producer, and serves to regulate the
action of the pump. If it shows pressure then the pump does not draw
sufficient gas; if it shows a vaccum then the pump draws to much.
According to this the pump is allowed to work cither quickly or
slowly.
The gas generator is filled with ammonia, and a fire is lit under it; at

page_text: condenser, and the cock opened that communicates with the ice
producer, and from there through the serpentino pipes of the cooling
vessel, and the valve opened which is in cylinder. The generator gas
drives before it the atmospheric air which is in the apparatus, whence it
passes through the valve into the cylinder filled with water. When the
air is let out, the fire is continued so long under the gas generator until
the mauometer shews a pressure of 12 atmospheres, and as the
ammoniacal gas becomes liquid at a pressure of 12 atmospheres, the ice
production may be commenced at such pressure, and this is done as
follows:-The cock of the ice producer is opened that the liquid gas
may pass into the serpentine pipes of the ice producer, the cock of the
pump is also opened, and the pump is put in motion. The liquid gas
which passes into the ice producer evaporates therein, as there is no
pressure in the serpentine pipes. The pump draws this gas which goes
to the ice producer through the pipes, and presses it again towards the
serpentine tubes of the condenser through the pipes, and because the
pump sucks in the gas going into the ice producer, which is forced back
towards the condensor, the quantity of liquid gas which goes into the
ice producer is immediately replaced in the condensor, for which reason
nothing is lost by the pressure, and the gas in the condensor and
collecting vessel always remains liquid. If any liquid gas is lost
through any carelessness it must be replaced in the apparatus, which is
done as follows:-Without its being necessary to discontinue the
production of ice, a very weak fire is lit under the gas generator;; then
the gas comes out of the gas generator through the tubes and through
the serpentine tubes of the collecting vessel towards the pump through
its tube, and it is absorbed by the pump pressed towards the condensor,
and the
gas allowed to run so long until the missing gas is replaced, and
until the manometer again shows 12 atmospheres. The gas coming out
of the gas generator by this operation goes through the serpentine tube
for the purpose of cooling, as the gas coming through the serpentine tube
still produces cold, which is communicated to the water existing in the
vessel, the gas in the serpentine pipes gets completely cooled.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd September 1878.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers,
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue
Gaillon, Paris, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty- ]
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Morgan-Brown, Her special license
that I, the said William Morgan-Brown, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Morgan-Brown, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, 1 ]
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN ICE-MAKING MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad by Franz :
Littmann, of Halle an der Saale, Germany, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Morgan-Brown, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Morgan-Brown, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say!—
This Invention is for improvements in ice-making machines, and
consists in improvements in ice-making machines constructed for pro-
ducing ice by means of liquid ammoniacal gas, and in producing the
liquid ammoniacal gas by pressure of a force pump.
The Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-

page_text: panying Drawings of the machine, in which No. 1 is a front view;
No. 2, a side view; No. 8, a plan. The like letters and numbers for
each part being used through all the Figures.
The ice machine consists of the following parts:-A, the gas
generator; B, the condenser; O, the condenser; D, the collecting
vessel; E, the ice producer; F, the refrigerator; G, the pump; J, the
absorption vessel.
A, the Gas Generator.-The gas generator is an upright boiler made
of wrought iron fitted with a cap on which is the condenser B. There
is also fixed on to the cap a nozzle 1 for the purpose of pouring in the
material from which the ammoniacal gas is obtained. At the bottom of
the boiler is fixed a tube 2 for the purpose of letting out of the
boiler the material after it has been utilised. The nozzle 1 and the
tube 2 are hermetically screwed up with a lid. There is also attached
to the boiler a water gauge to indicate the height of the liquid contained
therein. The boiler is bedded in and provided with a fire-grate.
In order to obtain the necessary ammoniacal gas for the production of
the ice, I take, 1st., the ammonical water obtained in the gas works
by mixing it with 28 p. % of lime, when by the warming of this mass
the ammoniacal gas is generated; or I take, 2nd., chemically pure
ammonia which on being warmed causes the ammoniacal gas requisite
for the production of the ice to escape whilst the water itself remains.
-
B, the Condenser.-The condenser consists of several divisions b, b, b,
composed of two half round cups joined together, and which are con-
nected with each other by the flanged pipes d. In order that the gas
which goes from the boiler to the condenser should not go direct
through the pipes d, there is in all these spaces over each aperture a
half round cup o of the same shape as that of which the divisional
spaces are formed, standing only off, inch from the lower cup, thereby
the gas strikes against this cup and must make its way round it in order
to reach the second space, and so on, whereby the whole cooling surface
is utilised and the vapours of water fall back again towards the boiler.
Round these spaces is a tin cylinder e which is tightly screwed on
the bottom of the lower cup, and into which fresh water is continually
3 running by means of a tube which almost reaches the bottom for the
purpose of cooling the gas coming out of the boiler. On the top cup is
the knee flanged pipe f to which is attached a double armed flanged .
to⚫
.

page_text: pipe g, where are the two cocks K, L, of which K is in connection with
the condenser C, and L with the refrigerator F.
O, the Condenser.-The condenser is a tin case in which are several
rows of serpentine pipes which at each end lead into a larger pipe 1, 1,
thereby forming a whole; the joint pipe / supports two flanged pipes h, i, b
เ
the flanged pipe for the purpose of being connected with the cock K,
and flanged pipe to be connected with the force pump. The joint
pipe has a flanged pipe K which is in connection with the flanged pipe 7
of the collecting vessel. The condenser serves to cool the gas which
either comes out of the boiler or the pump for the purpose of facilitating 1
the liquifying of the gas. The condenser rests on two columns.
D, the Collecting Vessel.-The collecting vessel is made of cast iron
hermetically closed with a lid, and fitted with two flanged pipes 7 and 8,
the flanged pipe 7 is connected with the flanged pipe K of the joint
pipe in the condenser C, and the flanged pipe 8 is connected with the 1
cock P of the ice producer. This vessel serves for the purpose of
collecting the liquid gas, and that there should be a supply thereof.
E, the Ice Producer.-Tho ico producer consists of a tin box which
stands in one of wood with an intermediate space m between them
which is filled with ashes; in the tin box are several serpentine tubos 2
which lead to the joint pipe O which connects the serpentine tubes as a
whole. The joint pipe O has a flanged pipe p from which a tube 10,
11, 12, is connected with the serpentine tube of the cooling vessel F,
and this is again connected with the pump through the tube 14, 15. In
the interior of the ice producer are fitted up against the two lateral 2
walls 2 paddle wheels S which are put in motion by the rollers Z in
order to preserve in an uninterrupted motion the volatile alkali contained
therein, so that the cold should be evenly distributed. Between the
serpentine pipes there are suspended square tin forms which contain the
water to be frozen. At the top of the tin box is a wooden frame n with 3
a square holo in which the tin forms fit. The box is covered with
wooden lids to prevent the warmth from penetrating thereto.
F, the Cooling Vessel.-The cooling vessel is a tin cylinder in which
are two serpentine pipes, the serpentine pipe 12, 18, at the end of which
rests the flanged pipe R, serves to conduct the gas coming from the ice 3
producer either through pipo 23, 24, to the absorption vessel, or through
pipe 22 to the tin cylinder H for the purpose of getting rid of the air;
through the serpentine pipe 19, 20, the gas goes through tube 18, 19,

page_text: and thence through tube 20 to the pump. As the gas coming from the
ice producer continues producing cold along its whole course, the water
which is in the cooling vessel is cooled by the gas traversing the serpen-
tine pipe 12, 13; and this water is utilised for the production of ico, and
thereby the production of ice is accelerated, and the water thus cooled
is drawn off through cock R.
G, the Pump. The pump is an ordinary double-acting suction or force
pump with an iron cone. On the suction pipe S is a doublo branched
pipe t, with two cocks M, N; cock M becomes connected with the pipe
of the ice producer and N with the pipe of the gas generator. The
force pipe u is connected by a pipe 16, 17, with the serpentine pipe of
the condenser C.
J, the Absorption Vessel.-The absorption vessel is an iron cylinder
closed hermetically with a lid, in which is a serpentine pipe through
which water is running. On the lid are two nozzles 24, 25, leading
upwards. Through the nozzle 24 the gas coming from the ice producer
enters, and is connected by a pipe 23, 24, with the cock O; at the
nozzle 25 the water which is to be saturated with ammoniacal gas is let
in; at the cock u the manufactured ammonia is let off. The vessel is
also provided with a water gauge in order to know the height of the
liquid in the vessel. This vessel serves to manufacture ammonia at the
time when the machine is not working in the months of the winter, or
also when the machine is out of order, so that it is necessary to get it
repaired. In that case, the ammoniacal gas still remaining in the
machine, must first of all be removed from it, which is done by the
absorption vessel where the whole gas is absorbed by the water. This
saturated fluid is sent up to the balloon through cock u, so that when
the machine is again in working order this solution may be filled into
the boiler, and the gas may be obtained again by means of warmth.
Through the serpentine pipe of the vessel the cooling water is allowed
to run out of the condenser O and through the pipe 27, 28, and to run
off through the cock V. Besides these described component parts three
spring manometers are required for the machine. Tat the gas generator
shews the pressuro existing in it, whilst the gas generator V fitted to the
pipe 16, 17, shews the pressure of the gas in the serpentine tubes of the
condenser and the collecting vessel, so that it should be known exactly
whether there is sufficient liquid gas. W, at the pipe 11, 12, indicates
the pressure in the serpentine pipes of the ice producer, and serves to

page_text: regulate the action of the pump. If it shews pressure then the pump
does not draw sufficient gas; if it shews a vacuum then the pump draws
too much. According to this the pump is allowed to work either quickly
or slowly.
Working of the Machinc.-The gas generator A is filled with ammonia
and a fire is lit under it; at the same time cock K is opened that the
gas may pass into the condenser O, and cock P is opened that it may
pass into the ice producer, and from thence through the serpentine pipes
of the cooling vessel, and valve O is opened which is in the cylinder H.
The generator gas drives before it the atmospheric air which is in the 1
apparatus, thence it passes through the valve into the cylinder filled
with water. If the air is let out the valve S and cock P are to be
closed, and the fire is continued so long under the gas generator until
the manometer V of the pipo 17 and 16 shews a pressure of 12
atmospheres, and as tho ammoniacal gas becomes liquid at a pressure 1
of 12 atmospheres, the ice production may be commenced at such
pressure, and this is done as follows:-Cock K is to be shut and cock P
of the ice producer to be opened, that the liquid gas may pass into the
serpentine pipes of the ice producer; cock M of the pump is also opened,
and the pump is put in action. The liquid gas which passes into the a
icc producer evaporates therein, as there is no pressure in the serpentine
pipes. The pump draws this gas which goes to the ice producer through
the pipes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and passes it again towards the serpentino
tubes of the condenser through the pipe 16, 17; and because the pump
sucks in the gas going into the ice producer, which is forced back a
towards the condenser, the quantity of liquid gas which goes into the
ice producer is immediately replaced in the condenser, for which reason
nothing is lost by the pressure, and the gas in the condenser and
collecting vessel always remains liquid.
If any liquid gas is lost through any carelessness it must be replaced a
in the apparatus, which is done as follows, without its being necessary
to discontinue the production of ico:-A very weak firo is lit under the
gas generator A, and the cock L is opened; then the gas comes out of
the gas generator through the tube 18, 19, through the serpentine
tubes 19, 20, of the collecting vessel towards the pump, through the a
tube 20, 21, and through cock N; it is absorbed by the pump, pressed
towards the condenser C, and the gas is allowed to run so long until the
missing gas is replaced, and until the manometer V again shews 12

page_text: atmospheres. The gas coming out of the gas generator by this operation
goes through the serpentine tube 19, 20, for the purpose of cooling, as
the gas coming through the serpentine tube 12, 13, still produces cold
which is communicated to the water existing in the vessel, the gas in
the serpentine pipes 19, 20, gets completely cooled.
Should there occur any looseness in the apparatus so that it becomes
necessary to make repairs before it can be worked again, which cannot
be done as long as there is ammonia in the apparatus, then the gas
instead of going to the pump has to go to the absorption vessel J; in
this manner the pump is stopped. Cock O is to be opened, thereby the
gas instead of passing into the pump passes into the absorption vessel J,
through the tube 23, 24, 26. In the absorption vessel there is either
water or weak ammonia. The gas which passes into the absorption
vessel becomes now absorbed by the liquid existing therein. If this
liquid is sufficiently saturated then it is sent through the cock W into
the balloon, and this is repeated until the whole gas contained in the
apparatus is removed out of it. As warmth is developed by the
absorbtion of the gas the cooling water runs constantly during this
operation through the serpentine tube which is in the vessel. In this
manner the gas is also removed from the apparatus in case of its being
wished to leave the apparatus unoccupied during the months of the
winter.
The position of the various component parts of the machine must be
regulated according to the spot where the machine is to be located, and
5 does not affect the principle of the machine.
0
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would
have it understood that what I claim is, the machinery and apparatus so
planned, combined, and arranged, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of
August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and