IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO FREEZING AND ICE-MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Franz Windhausen, of the City of Brunswick,
Germany, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
APPLICABLE TO FREEZING AND ICE-MAKING MACHINES."
Sealed the 3rd September 1869, and dated the 5th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Franz Windhausen at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th March 1869.
:
I, FRANZ WINDHAUSEN, of the City of Brunswick, Germany, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM.
PROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO FREEZING AND ICE-MAKING. MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
'
This: Invention:relates to that class of freezing and ice-making
machines.in which atmospheric air is compressed, then passed through a
condenser and afterwards expanded again to remove the heat, or in other
words. to produce cold; but such machines have been limited in their
cold producing properties by the degree of expansion to which the air is
..subjected, and by the température of the cooling water employed. Now
this Invention has for its object the construction of a machine of small

page_text: stam, degree of expansion of the air
employed produce any requisite degree of cold, and which degree of cold
can be regulated to the greatest nicety by the hand of the attendant by
means of peculiar graduated adjusting mechanism, afterwards referred to
as a three-way cock or valve.
For the purposes of my Invention I employ a single double-acting
cylinder or two distinct cylinders, the double-acting cylinder being
capable of compressing the air on one side of the piston and of
expanding it on the other, whilst when the two cylinders are employed
one is used for compressing the air and the other for expanding it
afterwards. The air is first admitted into the compressing chamber and
thence passes into a condenser which forms a material part of this
Invention, and consists by preference of a rectangular chamber divided
into two portions or divisions, having a parallel series of pipes in each
division, the nearest series of such pipes to the compressing chamber
through which the air first passes. being surrounded by, cold water, which
is constantly running through it in an opposite direction to the current
of air, so as to cool the air passing through such pipes, the second series
of such pipes through which the air next passes. being surrounded by
cold air supplied as herein-after described. The air having thus passed
through these two series of pipes then enters the expansion chamber,
where it is expanded and cooled, and then escapes through a temperature
regulator of peculiar construction (acting in the same manner as
a three-
way cock or valve) into the refrigerator. In this refrigerator the vessels
are situated which contain the liquid to be frozen, which may be in the
form of pipes, through which the air, gas, or vapour to be cooled may be
.passed. By means of this temperature regulator or three-way valve
herein-before mentioned a portion of the air proceeding from the ex-
pansion chamber may be admitted into the space surrounding the second
series of pipes herein-before described, so as to impart coldness to them;
in fact, when the cold air admitted into the refrigerator has given off its
cold or become heated it passes through this same space, but enters
from another point on its way to the compressing chamber, and may
previously to reaching the compressing chamber be made to pass through
one or more pipes surrounded by the running stream of water, which
afterwards passes through the casing containing the first-mentioned
series of pipes, and thus may have a cooling effect upon such water.
Having thus circulated through the machine the same air is again

page_text: admitted into the compressing chamber, and the whole operation is
repeated, thus keeping up a complete circulation through the machine.
The cylinders are fitted with induction and eduction valves worked by
eccentrics or tappets on the crank shaft, which latter is connected by a
connecting rod to the piston in the ordinary manuer, so as to be worked
either by power or by hand. In order to maintain an equal pressure of
air in the refrigerator and condenser a pressure regulator in the form of
a balloon, made of vulcanised india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material, is in communication with the interior of the refrigerator, which
regulator stretches out when the pressure in the refrigerator is greater
than that of the atmosphere, and is contracted as soon as the pressure in
the refrigerator is less than that of the atmosphere. The refrigerator is
further provided with a valve opening inwards, which is acted upon by
the atmosphere, and supplies any loss of air in the machine, the fresh
supply entering by such valve being dried by passing through chloride of
lime previous to entering the machine. I sometimes dispense with the
chloride of lime and take the atmospheric air into the compressing
chamber direct, and lead the cooled air or part of it into any space in
which a low temperature is required; or I take the air by the aid of a
pipe from such space into the compressing chamber, and lead the cooled
air or part of it back again by another pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Franz Windhausen in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANZ
WINDHAUSEN, of the City of Brunswick, Germany, Civil Engineer,
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 sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Franz Windhausen, Her special licence
that I, the said Franz Windhausen, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Franz Windhausen, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no

page_text: 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
APPLICABLE TO FREEZING AND ICE-MAKING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Franz Windhausen, my executors. or
administrators, 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 Franz Windhausen, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 that class of freezing and ice-making
machines in which atmospheric air is compressed, then passed through a
condenser and afterwards expanded again to remove the heat, or in other
words to produce cold, but which machines have hitherto been limited in
their cold producing properties by the degree of expansion to which the
air is subjected, and by the temperature of the cooling water employed.
Now this Invention has for its object the construction. of a machine of
small compass which with one constant degree of expansion of the air
employed produces any requisite degree of cold, and which degree of
cold can be regulated to the greatest nicety by the hand of the
attendant by means of graduated adjusting valve mechanism.
For the purposes of my Invention I employ a single double-acting
cylinder or two distinct cylinders, the double-acting cylinder being
capable of compressing the air on one side of the piston and of ex-
panding it on the other, whilst when the two cylinders are employed
one is used for compressing the air and the other for expanding it
afterwards. The air is first admitted into the compressing chamber
and thence passes into a condenser which forms a material part of this
Invention, and consists, by preference, of a rectangular chamber divided
into two portions or divisions having a parallel series of pipes in each
division, the nearest series of such pipes to the compressing chamber
through which the air first passes being surrounded, by cold water

page_text: and
which is. constantly running through it in an opposite direction to the
current of air, so as to cool the air passing through such pipes, the
second series of such pipes through which the air next passes being
surrounded by cold water supplied as herein-after described. The air
having thus passed through these two series of pipes then enters the
expansion chamber, where it is expanded, and cooled, and then escapes
through a temperature regulator of peculiar construction (acting in the
same manner as a three-way cock or valve) into the refrigerator. In
this refrigerator the vessels are situated which contain the liquid to be
frozen, which may be in the form of pipes, through which the air, gas,
or vapcur to be cooled may be passed. By means of the temperature
regulator,. herein-before mentioned, a portion of the air proceeding from
the expansion chamber may be admitted into the space surrounding.
the second series of pipes herein-before described, so as to impart cold-
ness to them; in fact, when the cold air admitted into the refrigerator has
given off its cold or become heated; it passes through the same space
but enters from. another point on its way to the compressing chamber,
may previously to reaching the compressing chamber be made to
pass through one or more pipes surrounded by the running stream of.
water, which afterwards passes through the casing containing the first-
mentioned series of pipes, and thus may have a cooling effect upon
such water. Having thus circulated through the machiue the same
air is again admitted into the compressing chamber, and the whole
operation is repeated, thus keeping up a complete circulation through
the machine. The cylinders are fitted with induction and eduction
valves worked by excentrics or tappets on the crank shaft, which
latter is connected by a connecting rod. to the piston in the ordinary
manner, so as to be worked either by power or by hand. In order to
maintain an equal pressure of air in the refrigerator and condenser a
pressure regulator in the form of a balloon, made of vulcanized india-
rubber or other suitable elastic material, is in communication with the
interior of the refrigerator; which regulator stretches out when the
pressure in the refrigerator is greater than that of the atmosphere; and
is contracted as soon as the pressure in the refrigerator is. less than that
of, the atmosphere.. The refrigerator is further. provided with a valve
opening, inwards, which is acted upon by. the atmosphere, and supplies
any loss of air in the machine, the fresh. supply. entering by. such valve
being, dried, by passing, through chloride of lime previous to entering
the, machine.. I. sometimes dispense with the chloride of. lime and take

page_text: the atmospheric air into the compressing chamber direct, and lead the
cooled air or part of it into any space in which a low temperature is
required; or 1 take the air by the aid of a pipe from such space into
the compressing chamber, and lead the cooled air or part of it back
again by another pipe.
In order that this my said Invention may be the more readily seen
and understood I have hereunto annexed a Drawing of an ice-making or
freezing machine, having only one double-acting cylinder in which the
expansion of the air employed takes place, drawn to a scale of about
one inch to the foot.
Fig. 1 is a side exterior view of the machine, and Fig. 2 a plan of the
same, with the refrigerator removed in order to show the cylinder and
arrangement of pipes more clearly; Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the
machine through the line from a to b shown on Figure 2, and Figure 4 is
a back view, seen in section along the line from c to d, marked on Fig. 3.
Similar letters are used to denote similar parts in all the views.
A is the double-acting cylinder, and B the piston of the same; which
by means of the forked connecting rod C is connected to the crank D
of the driving shaft which carries the fly wheel and revolves in one of
its bearings on the pedestal E, which pedestal and the cylinder are
situated and screwed upon the cooler F. The cooler F consists of a
rectangular enclosed chamber containing a series of parallel pipes more
particularly described hereafter. Situated on the top of the cylinder A,
and partly supported by a pillar G is fixed the refrigerator H. This is a
rectangular double cased chamber in which are suspended the cases H
and H2 which contain the liquid or other medium to be cooled. All
the internal parts of the machine communicate with each other by the
pipes J and J2, and valves L, M, N, and O.
Description of Cylinder.-The cylinder A is fitted with covers A¹
and A, each of which covers is formed hollow and divided by a partition
into two compartments. a and b, and a and b¹. These compartments
communicate with the interior of the cylinder at their respective ends
by passages fitted with valves; L, being the outlet valve, and M the inlet
valve appertaining to the compartiments a and b, and O being the outlet
valve, and N the inlet valve appertaining to the compartments a¹ and b¹.
The front part of the cylinder in which the compression takes place is
surrounded by a jacket. W containing water in order to cool. it, and the

page_text: back part or other end of the cylinder in which the expansion takes
place is enveloped in a bad conductor of heat Q, by preference composed
of sawdust or loose cotton, in order to prevent its being lieated as much
as possible from the outside is an annular passage or space sur-
5 rounding the cylinder and separating the front from the back part of
the cylinder, in order to prevent the heat being carried from the front
to the back; this space c serves at the same time as a receptacle for
the grease to lubricate the piston. The piston B is nearly as thick
as the whole length of the stroke of the crank D and is constructed of
two disc plates Band B2 affixed to the piston rod, and each of which
plates is fitted with the ordinary cupped leathers. The intermediate
space between such plates is filled with a non-conductor of heat, by
preference loose cotton, and surrounded on the outside with a wooden
casing B³, which construction is designed to prevent the heat travelling
from the front to the back part of the cylinder. The piston rod passes
through a stuffing box and is guided at the same time through a bush
fitted in the pillar G. The actuating mechanism of the inlet
and outlet valves N and O consists of two cams or tappet wheels S
keyed upon the driving shaft which alternately strike the friction or
tappet rollers 'S mounted upon the rod S¹ according to the expansion
in the back part of the cylinder. The rod S¹ is connected to the forked
lever S, the ends of which lever actuate the spindles of the valves O
and N as illustrated in such a manner that the valve O allows the com-
pressed air to enter the back part of the cylinder for a portion of the
forward stroke of the piston, until the valve O closes when the expansion
takes place for the remaining portion of the stroke. During the back
stroke of the piston the valve N is arranged to remain open by the
disposition of the cams or tappet wheels S upon the driving shaft.
ر
Description of the Cooler. This consists of a hollow inclosed box or
chamber which at the same time constitutes the foundation or bed plate,
upon which the cylinder A, pedestal E, and refrigerator F are fixed.
Its interior is divided by the space E into two compartments w¹ and 62
hermetically closed, in each of these compartments series of parallel
pipes F and F are fixed, being secured in the ends F¹. The interiors
of these pipes are
in communication with each other through the
space a, and with the space a of the front cylinder cover through the
pipe J, and with the space a¹ of the back cylinder cover through the
pipe J. The space w₁ surrounding the outside of the first series of
parallel pipes is entirely filled with a running stream of water which

page_text: flows away through the pipe W2, the fresh supply being kept up by
means of any ordinary pump, which fresh supply enters by the pipe: W
and passes through the jacket w surrounding the front part of the
cylinder before it enters the space w¹ through the pipe W In order to
keep this water in direct contact with the outside of all the cooling pipes-
the metal plates F are fixed in the compartment w¹ so as to compel
the water to pass by or in contact with the outside of every single pipe ;
and by this means the water passes through in an opposite direction to
the current of air which passes through the interior of such pipes and
thus cools the air passing them to the lowest degree, with the smallest
quantity of cooling water. The other division or compartment of the
cooler marked 2 is similar to that just described, with this difference,
that the pipes in this compartment are surrounded by a current of cold
air instead of water; this cold air enters through the pipes J2 direct
from the compartiment b' cf the black cylinder cover, and also from the
refrigerator F through the pipe J³, and proceeds in the direction of the
arrows 1, 2, 3, through the pipe J4 to the compartment by the front
cylinder cover, where it is drawn through the inlet valve M by means of
the piston into the front part of the cylinder, to be again compressed
at the return stroke of the piston and afterwards driven into the cooling
pipes through the outlet valve L and pipe J'.
Description of the Refrigerator.-This has already been described as
being fixed upon the cylinder and pillar G, and consisting of a double
cased rectangular chamber H constructed of wood, the space between
the casings being filled with a non-conductor of heat (by preference
of loose cotton). The cover of this refrigerator has rectangular openings
formed in it for the insertion of the corresponding rectangular metal
cases H which are open at the top and are suspended in the refrigerator
in the same symmetrical order as illustrated. Inside these cases the
ice boxes H2 (filled with water or other fluid to be frozen) are placed,
and in order to effect an immediate contact between the two, the
former H are previously partly filled with a fluid which does not
readily freeze (by preference spirits of wine), or at a higher temperature
a solution of chloride of lime might be used. The cases H' might be
employed themselves for freezing purposes by filling them direct with
the fluid to be frozen, as such cases are loosely inserted in the openings
formed in the cover to receive thein and are packed under their top
flanges with india-rubber, felt, or other similar material. To ensure a
complete spreading of the current of air over the whole outer surface

page_text: of the cases H¹ the zig-zag wooded partitions H3 are fixed inside the
refrigerator, between each of the metal cases, by which means a zig-zag
course is given to the current corresponding with the direction of the
arrows shown. In the refrigerator the cold air expanded to atmospheric
pressure enters through the pipe J5, and in passing through imparts its
cold to the chests H¹ and in a corresponding degree becomes heated
itself and finally escaping through the pipe J³ into the cooler F. In.
order to maintain one constant pressure insido the refrigerator. its
interior communicates through the pipe Y with an elastic ball or
balloon Z (by preference formed of vulcanized india-rubber) which
immediately becomes distended when the pressure is greater in the
refrigerator than that of the atmosphere, and vice versa. Any loss of
air inside the refrigerator caused by leakage of any of the parts is pro-
vided for by means of the valve R which opens inwards by atmospheric
pressure whenever the pressure inside the refrigerator is less than that
of the atmospherec, thus allowing the deficiency to be made up, but
before arriving inside the refrigerator such supply of air on its way
passes through chloride of lime supported in a perforated tin box situated
immediately below the valve R. The refrigerator herein-before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing is designed specially for
freezing liquids; but for cooling air or gases, or condensing vapours
straight or curved pipes are fixed in such refrigerator in the same
manner as the pipes described in the cooler F, which pipes are surrounded
with the the current of cold air coming from the machine through the.
pipe J3 Through these straight or curved pipes the air, gases, or
vapours to be cooled are conveyed in an opposite direction to the current
of air passing outside them; and in case the machine is required to
cool and ventilate apartments, such as cellars, ship holds, hospitals,.
theatres, and other places the cold air is conveyed from the tube J5.
(which may be lengthened for the purpose) directly into such places
whilst fresh air is constantly supplied to the machine through a pipe in
connection with the pipe J4 to be thereby cooled and then forced into
such places.
Description of the Temperature Regulator.-I have already described...
the particular manner in which the expanded air passes out of the back.
part of the cylinder from the compartment 61 through the pipe J2 into
the condenser, and through the pipe J5 into the refrigerator.
It now,
therefore, only remains to be shewn more particularly how the cold air
is divided so as to pass in the proper quantities through each of the.

page_text: pipes J2 and J. For this purpose the pipes J2 and J5 each open into a
cylindrical compartment J which is fitted with a segmental valve P,
see (Figure 1) which turns with a hand lever, so that either of the mouths
of the pipes J2 and J5 may be partially or entirely closed at pleasure by
the hand of the attendant, and the exact relative sizes of such openings
is indicated by a finger (forming part of the hand lever) upon a dial
plate.. Suppose the segmental valve P to be in such a position as that
the mouths of the pipes J2 and J' shall be to each other as 1 is to n
then a proportionate part of the expanded air is used for cooling the
contents of the refrigerator and parts are used for the first cooling
of the compressed air. A simple calculation then shews that the com-
pressed air is constantly being cooled to a lower temperature and
becoming in a corresponding manner colder by the process of expansion
until it reaches the theoretical limit of n times as many degrees colder
every time as the expanded air becomes according to the mechanical
theory of heat.
This maximum degree of cold however can only be
effected under the supposition that the heat of the compressed air pro-
duced by the compression is entirely absorbed by the cooling water in
the cooler, and that the heating of the air in the machine through the
friction in the piston, the friction of the air in passing through the pipes,
and, the heat derived from without is not taken into consideration.
The machine I have described is complete in itself, the compression
and expansion of the air taking place in one and the same cylinder, but
it will be readily apparent that the expansion and compression may take
place in two separate cylinders, and that the cooler and refrigerator may
be erected at some distance from the other parts of the machine, pro-
vided that the pipes are arranged in the manner herein-before described.
The cylinder or cylinders may also be placed in an oblique and vertical
instead of an horizontal position, as illustrated, and the air may be
admitted into and withdrawn from the expansion cylinder by means
of the ordinary slide valve used in the steam engine. If a less intense
degree of cold is required the air passing round the outsides of the pipes
in the cooler may be dispensed with and water be employed instead; or
even atmospheric air may be used in place of the water, but passing
round the outsides of the pipes in the cooler in precisely the same manner
as the water. The air thus heated being useful for other purposes.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
my said Invention, together with the best methods with which I am

page_text: acquainted for carrying the saine into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that I lay no claim to the principle of alternately com-
pressing and expanding atmospheric air for the production of cold, nor
do I confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or
dimensions of the various parts of the apparatus illustrated
accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without
departing from the nature and principle of my Invention; but what I
consider new and therefore desire to claim is,-
1st. The general arrangement and construction of the ice-making or
freezing machine, illustrated in the annex ed Drawing and herein-before
described.
2nd. The use and application of the cooler and temperature regulator
for producing very low degrees of temperature.
3rd. The arrangement and construction of the double-acting cylin der
and piston.
4th. The peculiar form, construction, and arrangement of refrigerator.
5th. The elastic ball or balloon Z for maintaining one constant pressure
in the refrigerator and cooler.
6th. The valve R opening inwards and acted upon by the atmosphere
for supplying any deficiency of air in the manner described.
7th. The use and application of a current of air instead of water for
cooling the pipes in the cooler and utilizing the air so heated for other
purposes.
8th. The method of cooling and ventilating cellars, ship holds, hospitals
theatres, and other places by the direct application of the air cooled by
the machine, and in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Franz Windhausen, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
FRANZ (L.S.) WINDHAUSEN.