X Tan & 377 ADRADATOERERAD
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Joseph West, of Mason Street, West-
minster Bridge Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention
DrantamZAX A Tan & 377
ADRADATOERERAD
f" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ICE AND ADDADAMIS MUNDDRAD
Sealed the 24th March 1874, and dated the 4th February 1874.

page_text: one vessel the vapour of a volatile liquid, and to compress the same into
another vessel where it is condensed. Heat is abstracted in the one case
and given out in the other. The abstraction of heat is usually applied
to cool brine or some liquid that does not readily congeal, and the liquid
so cooled is caused to circulate in contact with vessels containing water
which is thus converted into ice. The heat given out by the vapour in
condensing is carried off by water or other cold liquid which is caused to
circulate in contact with surfaces exposed to the condensing vapour.
The liquid resulting from condensation is returned to the first vessel to
be again evaporated by the action of the exhausting pump.
Now according to my Invention I entirely dispense with the use of
brine or other liquid for communicating the freezing influence, applying
the water to be frozen directly to the surface of the vessel in which
evaporation take place, and instead of separate evaporating, freezing,
and condensing vessels, I employ two alternating vessels in the following
manner: Each of those two vessels I prefer to construct in the form of
a number of thin rectangular cells placed upright in a trough containing
the water to be frozen, the cells forming partitions in the trough with
water on both sides. In these cells I form partitions whereby the
volatile liquid and its vapour are caused to circulate in a zig-zag manner
through the cells, and in the water spaces between the cells agitators
may be worked to keep the water in motion during its refrigeration; one
of these cellular vessels for a time serves as the evaporating and freezing
vessel, while the other is serving as the recipient of the compressed
vapour and acting as a condenser, water being caused to circulate over
the surfaces of its cells, and the condensed liquid being returned from it
into the evaporating vessel. When the ice has been sufficiently formed
on the walls of the first set of cells I alter by means of valves or cocks
the direction in which the pump acts on the two vessels, and cause it
now to exhaust from the second set of cells, and to deliver the vapour
into the first set. The second set of cells now constitute the evaporating
and refrigerating vessel, while the first set act as the condenser. The
heat now imparted by the condensation to the walls of these cells by
liquefying a film of the ice next those walls serves to detach the ice
therefrom in pieces or blocks which can be readily removed. By thus
employing two vessels alternately for refrigeration and for condensation
considerable economy is effected in the first cost of the apparatus,
separate refrigerators and condensers being dispensed with, time is saved.

page_text: by dispensing with the brine circulation as well as power for effecting
that circulation, and a smaller quantity of cold water is required for
condensation, as at each alternation of the vessels the vapour is delivered
into ice cold cells.
The two vessels or sets of cells are made similar, so that each performs
the function of the other alternately, as above described. Each of them
is connected to the vapour pump with valves or cocks so arranged that
it can be made to communicate either with the exhaust or with the
discharge thereof. Also the two vessels communicate by a pipe by
which the liquid condensed in the one is returned for evaporation in the
other, this pipe is provided with suitable valves or cocks for adjusting
the difference of pressure in the two vessels, and in its course there is a
receptacle with a cock for the separation and discharge of air that may
leak into the apparatus.
Although I have described above a cellular construction of the two
vessels such as I prefer to employ, it may be readily understood that the
general arrangement and mode of operation of the apparatus in the
manner set forth are applicable to vessels of other forms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Joseph West in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
JOSEPH WEST, of Mason Street, Westminster Bridge Road, in the County
of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Joseph West, Her special
license that I, the said Henry Joseph West, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Joseph West, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ICE AND APPARATUS THEREFOB," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Joseph West, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Henry Joseph West, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the process of producing
ice by mechanical power, and to the construction, arrangement, and
operation of apparatus for that purpose.
In ice producing apparatus of the kind to which my improvements
apply a pump is worked by mechanical power so as to exhaust from one
vessel the vapour of a volatile liquid, and to compress the same into
another vessel where it is condensed. Heat is abstracted in the one case
and given out in the other. The abstraction of heat is usually applied
to cool brine or some liquid that does not readily congeal, and the liquid
so cooled is caused to circulate in contact with vessels containing water
which is thus converted into ice. The heat given out by the vapour in
condensing is carried off by water or other cold liquid which is caused to
circulate in contact with surfaces exposed to the condensing vapour.
The liquid resulting from condensation is returned to the first vessel to
be again evaporated by the action of the exhausting pump.
Now according to my Invention I entirely dispense with the use of
brine or other liquid for communicating the freezing influence, applying
the water to be frozen directly to the surface of the vessel in which
evaporation takes place, and instead of separate evaporating, freezing, a
and condensing vessels I employ two alternating vessels in the following
manner-Each of those two vessels I prefer to construct in the form of

page_text: a number thin rectangular cells placed upright in a trough containing
the water to be frozen, the cells forming partitions in the trough with
water on both sides: In these cells I form partitions whereby the
volatile liquid and its vapour are caused to circulate in a zig-zag manner
through the cells, and in the water spaces between the cells agitators
may be worked to keep the water in motion during its refrigeration ;
one of these cellular vessels for a time serves as the evaporating and
freezing vessel while the other is serving as the recipient of the com-
pressed vapour and acting as a condenser, the water being caused to
circulate over the surfaces of its cells, and the condensed liquid being
returned from it into the evaporating vessel. When the ice has been
sufficiently formed on the walls of the first set of cells I alter by means
of valves or cocks the direction in which the pump acts on the two
vessels and cause it now to exhaust from the second set of cells, and to
deliver the vapour into the first set. The second set of cells now
constitute the evaporating and refrigerating vessel while the first set act
as the condenser. The heat now imparted by the condensation to the
walls of these cells by liquefying a film of the ice next those walls serves·
to detach the ice therefrom in pieces or blocks which can be readily
removed. By thus employing two vessels alternately for refrigeration
and for condensation, considerable economy is effected in the first cost of
the apparatus, separate refrigerators and condensers being dispensed
with, time is saved by dispensing with the brine circulation as well as
power for effecting that circulation, and a smaller quantity of cold water
is required for condensation, as at each alternation of the vessels the
vapour is delivered into ice cold cells.
The two vessels or sets of cells are made similar, so that each performs
the function of the other alternately, as above described.. Each of them
is connected to the vapour pump with valves or cocks so arranged that
it can be made to communicate cither with the exhaust or with the
discharge thereof. Also the two vessels communicate by a pipe by
which the iquid condensed in one is returned for evaporation in
the other. This pipe is provided with suitable valves or cocks for.
adjusting the difference of pressure in the two vessels, and in its course
there is a receptacle with a cock for the separation and discharge of air:
that may leak into the apparatus.
Although I have described above a cellular construction of the two
vessels such as I prefer to employ, it may be readily understood that the

page_text: general arrangement and mode of operation of the apparatus in the
manner set forth are applicable to vessels of other forms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a general plan of ice-making apparatus constructed
and arranged according to my Invention, the upper half of the figure
shewing a set of cells in a tank, and the lower half shewing the same
with agitators for keeping the water in motion during refrigeration, as
will hereafter be described.
Fig. 2 represents an end view of the two tanks shewing an arrange-
ment of the pipes and cocks for alternating their operation.
Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of one set of the cells con-
tained in the tank; Fig. 4 represents a transverse section through the
tank and cells; and Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the inter-
mediate receptacle.
The other Figures shew portions of the construction in detail to an
enlarged scale, as will hereafter be referred to.
The two tanks c and d preferably made of wood as a non-conducting
material contain cells c¹ and d¹ which are preferably flat rectangular
vessels having in them partitions c³ so arranged that fluid passing
through them from their upper to their lower parts or vice versâ has
to flow in a zig-zag course and thereby to be brought in contact with the
whole of the side surface. For convenience of construction the cells are
made in short lengths secured together, and having their end covers
secured on them by bolts extending through them lengthwise, the
nuts of these bolts being covered by caps ct, as shewn in Fig. 6, to
prevent leakage. It may readily be understood that cells of similar
form might be made by forming the sides of separate cast plates of dish-
form, bolted or rivetted together with the partitions cast on them as ribs,
or they might be flattened tubes of copper or other material with
partitions soldered or brazed in and covered at the ends. The con-
struction of such cells is well known and understood, and I make no
claim to it as part of my Invention. In each tank between the cells
and outside the outer cells there are water spaces c³ and d³, each set of
cells communicates by pipes provided with stop-cocks or valves with
pipes that communicate respectively with the suction and the discharge
of an exhausting and compressing pump of any known construction;

page_text: -
an intermediate receptacle or reservoir e enclosed in a tank e¹ being
placed in the line of communication to operate in the following
manner: The pipe a is connected to the suction, and the pipe 6 to the
discharge of the pump. The tanks c, d, and e¹ being filled with clean
fresh water and the pump being set to work, the pressure is reduced in
the cells c¹ and d¹ and reservoir e, whercupon a charge of volatile liquid
such as ether is introduced by the funnel and cock e².
If it is intended to make ice first in the vessel c the cocks f and ƒª¹, 1,
and n are opened, and the cocks g and g¹, k, and m are closed. The
upper parts of the cells c¹ are thus placed in communication with the
suction of the pump by the pipe a, and the discharge of the pump is
made to communicate with the cells d' by the pipe b.
As the pump continues to work vapour generated from the volatile
liquid in the cells c¹ is caused to circulate through the compartments
thereof in a zig-zag manner, and is delivered into the upper part of the
cells d³, wherein it becomes liquefied as it traverses the zig-zag passages
thereof; thence it flows into the reservoir e by the pipe h, and back by
the pipe into the cells c¹ where it is again converted into vapour, and
so on continuously. In consequence of the cold produced by the evapo-
ration in the cells c¹ a deposit of ice takes place upon the outsides of
those cells. When the ice has attained the desired thickness the cocks g
and g¹ are opened, and the cocks f and f¹ closed so as to make the
cells c¹ communicate with the discharge, and the cells d¹ with the
suction of the pump. The volatile liquid is then evaporated in the
cells d, and the vapour charged with the heat abstracted from the water
surrounding those cells and heated also by compression enters the cells c¹
and gradually warming the sides thereof liquefies a film of the ice
adhering thereto causing the ice to separate freely therefrom, whereupon
the ice is removed; the tank c is then refilled with clean fresh water
and the process resumed as before described.
During the working of the apparatus a supply of water is kept flowing
into the tank e¹ of the reservoir e, and into the vessel c or d, which for
the time is serving as a condenser. A simple arrangement for this
purpose is to lead the overflow from the tank e¹ into the condensing vessel
by a flexible pipe which can be directed into either of the two vessels c
or d. Each of these vessels is also furnished with an overflow pipe.

page_text: The reservoir e is made of sufficient capacity to contain such air as
may leak into the apparatus, which air can be discharged from time to
time by opening a snift cock when the pressure in e exceeds that of the
atmosphere. It is convenient also to provide the reservoir e with a
pressure gauge.
In order that ice may be formed of equal thickness throughout the
entire height of the cells, it is preferable, especially in large apparatus,
to provide pipes by which either the upper or the lower parts of the
cells c³, d¹, can be connected to the pump, so that if the deposit of ice be
greater at the bottom, as indicated by the dotted lines c³ in Fig. 4, on
opening the cocks k and m and closing the cocks / and n the evaporation
will take place at the upper part which thus becomes the coldest, and
the vapour will be drawn away from the lower part; and thus the
thickness of the ice will become equalised, as shewn at c³ in Fig. 4.
To ensure hardness and transparency of the ice it has been found
desirable to keep the water constantly moving or agitated during
refrigeration; this may be done in various ways, as for example, by
causing the water to circulate through the ice tanks in a continuous
stream, withdrawing it at one end and delivering it into the tank at the
other end by means of a pump; or circular paddles might be caused to
revolve in the water; or a number of strips of wood or metal might be
caused to rise and descend with a reciprocating motion in the water.
According to the method shewn in the Drawings a number of flat
bars or paddles o are suspended vertically in the water spaces from
longitudinal bars p, to which they are swivel jointed, as shewn, to an
enlarged scale in side and end view at Figs. 8 and 9. The bars pare
caused to reciprocate horizontally in guides which may be furnished.
with rollers, the ends of these bars being all connected to a cross bar q
connected by a rod to a crank or eccentric q². To diminish the width
occupied by the paddles o as the ice becomes thickened on each side of
them, arms projecting from the swivel joints of the paddles are con-
nected to rods s. By moving any one of the rods s longitudinally all
the paddles connected to it are partially turned on their vertical axes so
as to move more or less edgways through the water, occupying less
width the more they are inclined in the direction of their motion.
When narrow paddles are employed the means above described of
varying the inclination may be dispensed with; or plain paddles, such

page_text: as shewn by Fig. 7, may be strung upon rods caused to reciprocate
horizontally, and can all be withdrawn from the water spaces by raising
the rods on which they are strung.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I make no
claim generally to the production of ice or effecting of refrigeration by
the evaporation of a volatile liquid in one vessel, the vapour being con-
densed in another vessel, but I claim,―-
First. The method, substantially as herein described, of producing ice
by the evaporation and condensation of a volatile liquid in two similar
sets of vessels or cells operating in combination, so that the one set is
made to serve for evaporation and the other for condensation alternately.
Second. The use for producing ice in the manner above referred to, of
apparatus consisting of two sets of vessels or cells such as are referred to
above connected to an exhausting and compressing pump by pipes pro-
vided with cocks or valves, whereby either set of the said vessels or cells
can be made to communicate with the suction or with the discharge of
the said pump, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Joseph West, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.