IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ICE SKATING AND CURLING RINKS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Noel Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE OF ICE SKATING AND CURLING RINKS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR.".
Sealed the 9th May 1876, and dated the 24th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Noel Mackay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1876.
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ICE SKATING AND
CURLING RINKS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention has for its object to obtain rinks having a surface for skating or
curling upon of solid, smooth, level, and clear ice, and to maintain such surface in
proper condition economically when the said ice is formed and maintained by the
passage of a cold fluid or gas through pipes or their equivalents, hereafter called
freezing pipes, in the water to be frozen, and consists,-
First. As means for forming the upper surface of the ice level when the first
body of ice is being produced, I so fill the tank or rink with water as to cover the
freezing pipes, and to sucli an extent that the water above the said pipes shall bo
frozen before the water in the spaces between the said pipes is solidified. During
congelation I allow water to freely ebb and flow through a passage pipe way,
overflow, or connection from under and between the ico produced, so as to maintain
the unfrozen surface of the water at the desired level.
Second. As means for ensuring that the water in the tank or rink shall be main-
tained at the proper level during the production of the first body of ice, a passage
or way opening from the water under the ice to the atmosphere is forined or
allowed. By a ball tap or its equivalent and overflow pipe or way I maintain the
height of the water in the tank or rink at the required level. The ball tap or its
equivalent provides for leakage and the like, and the overflow pipe for expansion
during congelation.
Third. As means for maintaining ice surfaces at a given thickness above freezing
pipes or their equivalent, and also as means for maintaining the said ice surfaces in
a properly smooth, level, and hard condition I flush or flood the said surface, when

page_text: cut up and roughened by skating or curling upon or other causes, with water until
the cut up and roughened ice is melted, and then run off the superfluous water,
afterwards freezing the water which remains.
Fourth. As means for economically maintaining ice produced as above described,
and preventing loss of cold, (a) in keeping a layer of water beneath the ice; or
(b) in drawing off the water beneath the ice when the said ice is of sufficient
thickness, so as to leave air, which is not a good conductor of heat, in contact
with the said ice; or (c) in keeping water in contact with the ice, and an air space
underneath.
Fifth. As further means for economising cold, in dividing the water or air space,
or water and air space beneath the ice, horizontally into two or more layers by
partitions of wood or non-conducting material.
Sixth. As means for maintaining the freezing pipes or their equivalents at a
suitable height above the bottom of the said tank or rink when the above-described
improvements or any of them are used, in supporting the said pipes or their
equivalents on beams or like carriers.
Seventh. As means for rapidly abstracting heat from the water to be frozen, in
stretching from pipe to pipe a wire network, in covering the said pipes with sheet
metal having openings in or passages between them, or in forming the said pipes
with horizontal or nearly horizontal plates or flanges.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Noel Mackay in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
23rd August 1876.
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ICE SKATING AND
CURLING RINKS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention has for its object to obtain rinks having a surface for skating or
curling upon of solid, smooth, level, and clear ice, and to maintain such surface in
proper condition economically when the said ice is formed and maintained by the
passage of a cold fluid or gas through pipes or their equivalents, hereafter called
freezing pipes, in the water to be frozen, and consists,-
First. As means for forming the upper surface of the ice level when the first
body of ice is being produced, I so fill the tank or rink with water as to cover the
freezing pipes, and to such an extent that the water above the said pipes shall be
frozen before the water in the spaces between the said pipes is solidified. During
congelation I allow water to freely ebb and flow through a passage pipe way,
overflow, or connection from under and between the ice produced, so as to maintain
the unfrozen surface of the water at the desired level.
Second. As means for ensuring that the water in the tank or rink shall be main-
tained at the proper level during the production of the first body of ice, a passage
or way opening from the water under the ice to the atmosphere is formed or
allowed. By a ball tap or its equivalent and overflow pipe or way I maintain the
height of the water in the tank or rink at the required level. The ball tap or its
equivalent provides for leakage and the like, and the overflow pipe for expansion
during congelation.
Third. As means for maintaining ice surfaces at a given thickness above freezing
pipes or their equivalents, and also as means for maintaining the said ice surfaces in
a properly smooth, level, and hard condition, I flush or flood the said surface, when
cut up und roughened by skating or curling upon, or other causes, with water until
the cut up and roughened ice is melted, and then run off the superfluous water,
afterwards freezing the water which remains.
Fourth. As means for economically maintaining ice produced as above described,
and preventing loss of cold, (a) in keeping a layer of water beneath the ice; or

page_text: rinks constructed under my Invention.
Under the first part.-The level of the water in the rink is maintained at such a
height that the distance between the freezing pipes a is sufficiently greater than
the distance from the said pipes to the top of the water as to ensure that the said
water shall be frozen solid to the surface before it is frozen solid between the pipes a.
During refrigeration the water is maintained at a uniform level by means of the
passages band overflow ways c.
Under the second part. The level of the water is maintained, and the expansion
during freezing, loss by leakage or otherwise, allowed for by means of the passages b,
overflow ways c, and ball-cock d.
Under the third part.-The surface of the ice when cut up by skating or curling
upon or otherwise roughened is flushed with water to the required height, the
flushing boardse keeping the said water on the surface of the ice until sufficient ice
has been dissolved. The doors are then opened, and the superfluous water
allowed to flow off'; the water remaining is frozen solid, thus forming a new,
smooth, even, and level surface.
Under the fourth part, Fig. 1.-The ice is shown with a layer of water under-
neath, or if desired the said water may be drawn off, thus forming an air space
under the ice.
Under the fifth part.-The space below the ice is shown divided into two layers
by means of the boards y or other suitable material. Each of the said spaces may
be filled with air or water, or one with air and the other with water. More than
two layers may be employed.
Under the sixth part. The freezing pipes are maintained at a suitable height in
the tanks or rinks by means of the beams i or their equivalent.
Under the seventh part, see Fig. 5.-The freezing pipes are formed with flanges j
to facilitate the abstraction of the heat from the water. Wire netting or sheets of
metal placed over the pipes will effect the same purpose.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention so that others may be
enabled to carry my improvements into effect. I claim,―
Under the first part. Constructing ice skating and curling rinks, substantially in
the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Under the second part.-Maintaining a constant level of water in ice skating and
curling rinks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Under the third part-Maintaining ice surfaces at a given distance above the
freezing pipes, substantially in the manner set forth.
Under the fourth part.-Preventing loss of cold in ice skating and curling rinks,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: Under the fifth part.-Dividing the space below the ice surface into two or more
layers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Under the sixth part. Maintaining freezing pipes in ice skating and curling
rinks at a suitable height, substantially as set forth.
Under the soventh part.-Facilitating the abstraction of heat from the water,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Noel Mackay, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, the Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
FRED. N. MACKAY. (L.S.)