IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE SAFES OR REFRIGERATORS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Kent, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE SAFES OR REFRIGERATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Kent at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1879.
GEORGE KENT, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex.
IN ICE SAFES OR REFRIGERATORS.'
ور
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has for its object improvements in ice safes or refrigerators.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, dated the 5th day of May,
1868, No 1469, I described making the receptacle for the ice in ventilating ice
safes of overlapping plates or ribs of metal with air passages between them to
allow the air which has permeated the ice to have free access to the interior of
the safe.
I have discovered that these plates or louvre boards interfere considerably with
the free circulation of the chilled air from the ice and the radiation between the
sides of the safe and the articles contained in it with the ice, and that the degree
of cold is not so great as would be obtained if nothing were interposed between
the ice and the interior of the safe. If however the ice receptacle had no sides it
would be difficult to make it carry a sufficient supply, and it would be impossible
to prevent pieces of the broken ice from dropping into the interior of the safe. I
have therefore sought after some material which, whilst it will be sufficiently
strong to bear the weight of the ice when the receptacle is full, will at the same
time offer as little obstruction as possible to free radiation and circulation of the
air in the safe.
The material which I have discovered to be the best for the purpose by fulfilling
to the highest degree the above conditions is wire netting; this material is very
strong and at the same time offers as little obstruction as possible to free radiation
and to the passage or circulation of air.
I therefore form the ice receptacle of wire netting stretched on a strong frame-
work and under it I place a tray to catch the water dripping from the melting ice.

page_text: The receptacle is placed by preference at the top of the safe and is provided with a
separate door so that the supply of ice can be renewed without opening the main
doors, and so materially elevating the temperature of the safe. The supply of air
by which the safe is ventilated is so led in that it is compelled to pass through the
ice before it reaches the interior of the safe.
I find by experiment that the temperature obtained in a safe constructed
according to this Invention is several degrees lower than can be obtained with the
same weight of ice in a safe in which the ice is contained in a receptacle whose
sides are formed of metal plates or louvre boards; and that it more rapidly absorbs
the gaseous impurities given off by the meat, and lessens condensation on the sides
of the safe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent left by
the said George Kent in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th March,
1880.
GEORGE KENT, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex.
IN ICE SAFES OR REFRIGERATORS.'
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has for its object improvements in ice safes or refrigerators.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, dated the 5th day of May,
1868, No. 1469, I described making the receptacle for the ico in ventilating ice safes
of overlapping plates or ribs of metal with air passages between them to allow the
air which has permeated the ice to have free access to the interior of the safe.
I have discovered that these plates or louvre boards interfere considerably with
the free circulation of the chilled air from the ice, and the radiation between the
sides of the safe and the articles contained in it with the ice, and that the degree
of cold is not so great as would be obtained if nothing were interposed between
the ice and the interior of the safe. If however the ice receptacle had no sides
it would be difficult to make it carry a sufficient supply, and it would be impossible
to prevent pieces of the broken ice from dropping into the interior of the safe.
I have therefore sought after some material, which, whilst it will be sufficiently
strong to bear the weight of the ice when the receptacle is full will at the same
time offer as little, obstruction as possible to free radiation and circulation of the
air in the safe.
The material which I have discovered to be the best for the purpose by fulfilling
to the highest degree the above conditions is wire netting; this material is very
strong, and at the same time offers as little obstruction as possible to free radiation
and to the passage or circulation of air.
I
I therefore form the ice receptacle of wire netting stretched on a strong frame-
work, and under it I place a tray to catch the water dripping from the melting ice.
The receptacle is placed by preference at the top of the safe and is provided with a
separate door so that the supply of ice can be renewed without opening the main
doors and so materially elevating the temperature of the safe. The supply of air
by which the safe is ventilated is so led in that it is compelled to pass through the
ice before it reaches the interior of the safe.
I find by experiment that the temperature obtained in a safe constructed
according to this Invention is several degrees lower than can be obtained with the
saime weight of ice in a safe in which the ice is contained in a receptacle whose
sides are formed of metal plates or louvre boards, and that it more rapidly absorbs
the gaseous impurities given off by the meat, and lessens condensation on the sides
of the safe.
In carrying out my Invention I form the ice receptacle at the upper part of the
safe in a convenient position as is described in the Specification of my former
Patent, and I provide an aperture for the admission of air to the safe in such a
position that the air as it enters comes into contact with the ice and is in this way
cooled and caused to deposit the moisture it contains before it reaches the articles
stored in the safe. The air outlet is at the lower part of the safe and it is fitted
with a valve which may be opened more or less. The ice receptacle is of open wire
work, lattice, or netting. It retains the ice but permitting free radiation from it at
the sides. A tray is provided beneath the ice receptacle to catch the drippings,
and they are drained away to a trapped outlet.
What I claim is the construction of the ice receptacle of ice safes of wire work,

page_text: lattice, or netting, substantially as described, thereby to permit free radiation at the
sides of the ice receptacle to the interior of the safe."
In witness whereof, I, the said George Kent, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEO. KENT. (L.S.)