A Process for Preventing the Formation of Masses of Ice, such as Pack-ice, Snow-ice, and Ice-crashings in Rivers, Streams, and other Waters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process for Preventing the Formation of Masses of Ice, such as
Pack-ice, Snow-ice, and Ice-crashings in Rivers, Streams, and
other Waters.
I, ANTON MATHIAS HERRMAN of 14 Holstenplatz, Hamburg, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:―
Manifold and considerable damage results from the formation of masses of ice
such as pack-ice, snow-ice or ice-crashings in rivers, streams and the like during
frosty weather, whereby the use of the water for the purpose of navigation and for
other industrial and agricultural purposes is rendered difficult or even impossible,
besides other damage incurred thereby. These masses of ice are formed, contrary
to the suppositions hitherto acknowledged for the formation of the so-called
ground-ice, in such a way, that the ice crystals forming on the surface of the water
adhere to one another or to the snow falling upon the water and so form ice-lumps,
that the water is gradually cooled down by the admission of cold from the surface
of the water and that the formation of ice in view of this cooling down and the
regelation or freezing together, gradually increases in a downward direction until
large masses of ice fill the water.
The new process for preventing the formation of such masses of ice consists in
preventing the ice crystals, when in course of formation, to thickly cover the water
surface by forming into big lumps and thus the warmth of the bed of the river and
the like and of the water respectively is retained.
..!
The means employed for this purpose consist in arranging in the water at
suitable intervals floating bodies which for the purpose of this specification are
called "
Crystallization Floats" and which may consist of timber, logs, laths,
willow-twig textures and the like. The ice-crystals when in course of formation
will adhere to these floats and then freeze into a thin layer of ice.
This layer of ice prevents the cooling down of the water and of the bed of the
river or the like respectively and therefore at the same time prevents the formation
of masses of ice beneath this layer. Masses of ice coming down the river or from
tributaries which may happen to drive underneath this layer will even be reduced
or dissolved by the warmth retained in the water or by friction and will swim on
suspended in the water as harmless particles (ice conglomerates) which pass
through turbines and other hydraulic-power engines, pipes and the like and
gradually dissolve entirely having lost their power of regelation and therefore
being unable to form into lumps.
This layer of ice further prevents the admission of falling snow into the water
and thereby the formation of snow-ice, as the snow will either fall on the layer or
will be blown ashore. If resting on the ice the snow will assist in keeping the
water warm thus proving to be useful instead of contributing in a high degree
to the formation of disadvantageous masses of ice as hitherto.
The erystallization floats aforesaid need not necessarily be arranged close to-

page_text: gether in the water they may be kept floating by anchored-down buoys, boats, small
rafts and the like or may be fastened to or suspended from bridges, ropes arranged
across the water and the like and may easily be removed after the formation of the
layer of ice is completed..
If circumstances render it necessary the layer of ice may be anchored down or
fastened to the shores by means of trees, willow-twig textures or the like for
instance when providing an opening for navigation or when the layer of ice has
been partly destroyed or damaged by any influence, in such cases anchoring down
to the shores will still keep a layer of ice sufficient for the abovementioned purposes.
The said floats which are arranged on the surface of the water may be considered
in a certain sense and according to the local circumstances favourably acting
stowing contrivances. It has hitherto been believed that to retain the hydraulic
and industrial power of open water during the winter a floating on of the ice
masses by producing a steep fall of the water would be advantageous. This view
is proved to be incorrect as the water in running over steep falls will be forced to
rapid motion whereby it quickly cools down and forms into masses of ice.
The abovementioned stowing contrivances may be further provided with special
weirs or stowing bodies which in the case of stowings of ice re maining in the upper
course of the river or the like will prevent the total flowing off of the water in the
lower course and thereby prevent a falling down of the layer of ice.
When thawing the existing layer of ice will fall to pieces or to flakes of ice which
will flow off without causing crashings of ice or stowings.
The above described process enables the hydraulic power of running water to be
made use of for industrial purposes even during the whole of the winter and
prevents all dangers connected with the formation of huge masses of ice therefore
being of great importance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
The process for preventing the formation of masses of ice such as pack-ice,
snow-ice, and the so-called ground-ice in rivers, streams and other waters,
characterized by arranging on the surface of the water at suitable intervals floating
bodies to which the ice cyrstals, for the purpose of producing a layer of ice, adhere,
in order to retain the natural warmth of the earth and the water beneath this layer
of ice so as to prevent the formation of masses of ice and dissolve those which may
have floated down.
Dated the 20th date of October 1807
W. D. ROWLINGSON.
7 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
Agent for the Applicant.