IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Seale Haslam of Derby in the County of
Derby, Engineer and Ironfounder for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATING APPARATUS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Seale Haslam at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1883.
ALFRED SEALE HASLAM of Derby in the County of Derby, Engineer and
Ironfounder, IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
"
"
This Invention relates to improvements in Refrigerating apparatus in which air
is compressed, cooled, and expanded; and consists in an improved construction and
arrangement of the covers of the air compressing cylinders, in which the suction
and delivery valves are situate; in a novel combination of an air circulating
cylinder fan or blower with the air expansion cylinder; and in a novel adaptation
to the bed plate of a refrigerating apparatus of a steam condenser and air pump,
and of pumps for the circulation of the cooling and feed water, the objects in view
being to protect the working parts, to greatly increase the utility and efficiency of
the apparatus, and to economize space.
To attain these results the invention consists firstly in making the covers of the
air compressor hollow for the circulation of water and forming the said covers in
two pieces.
One of these pieces is a disc which is bored out to receive the suction and
delivery valves which valves are all self-contained with their guides, and are
secured in position by an outer cover.
The above arrangement is an improvement upon the construction of air com-
pressing cylinders and the arrangement of the valves described in the specifications
of my inventions for which I obtained Letters Patent dated respectively the
12th April 1880, N° 1484, and 22, June 1881, No 2740.
The Invention consists secondly in a novel combination of air cylinders. The
air expansion cylinder discharge is in connection with the discharge from a
circulating cylinder.
The air from the latter is combined with the extreme cold air from the former,

page_text: and tempers it, producing air of any desired degree of cold for the preservation of
perishable articles.
By this arrangement I obtain a large volume of air from a small sized machine,
and by blending the air with the extreme cold air I get an extra large volume of
air at any desired temperature. This is especially valuable in the case of fruits
and other delicate articles which spoil when exposed to extremely cold air. The
air should be cold and dry without frost, and by the aid of the extra circulating
cylinder this end is attained.
The circulating cylinder may draw its air from the cold room, or from the
outside of the room, or partly from each source, suitable valves or slides being
arranged to allow of the temperature being regulated as circumstances demand.
The circulating cylinder of any suitable capacity is fixed and worked from any
suitable part of the machine, and the arrangement may be combined with a fan, or
blower if desired.
The invention consists thirdly in adapting the Bed plate of a Refrigerating
Machine to form a condenser for the condensing of steam from the steam cylinder,
the condenser and its Air pump being fixed in the bed plate, and such condensers
and air pumps are combined in the Bed plate with the Air Refrigerator described
in my specification of April 12th 1880, N° 1484, above referred to. The motion for
working the Air Pump for the condenser is derived from the connecting rod of the
Refrigerating machine.
The circulating and Feed water pumps may be connected to the same motion,
or a similar device, By this arrangement of apparatus I am enabled to greatly
economize space, and obtain a compact and self-contained machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Seale Haslam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th October 1883.
ALFRED SEALE HASLAM of Derby in the County of Derby, Engineer and
Ironfounder IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
"
"
This Invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus in which air
is compressed, cooled and expanded, and consists in an improved construction and
arrangement of the covers of the air compressing cylinders in which the suction
and delivery valves are situate; in a novel combination of an air circulating
cylinder, fan or blower, with the air expansion cylinder; and in a novel adaptation
to the bed plate of a refrigerating apparatus of a steam condenser and air pump,
and of pumps for the circulation of the cooling and feed water, the objects in view
being to protect the working parts, to greatly increase the utility and efficiency of
the apparatus, and to economize space.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig: 1 is a sectional view through one cover of
the air compression cylinder, and Fig: 2 is a sectional view of the interior of the
cover and of the valve seats therein.
The cylinder cover I make of two main portions. The inner portion A which is
preferably made of brass is internally channelled as shewn at a, for the circulation
of water around the suction and delivery valves B and C respectively, and bored
out as shewn at b. and c. to receive the seats of the said valves.
The outer portion D which is preferably of cast iron or mild steel consists of a
cylindrically flanged disc which when bolted in position to the part A encloses a
space which is divided off to form passages for the admission and discharge of the
air before and after compression, and within these passages or air chambers the
suction and delivery valves are situated.
In the drawing the main portion D of the cover is shewn as divided by a central.
web or partition e. into two air chambers F and G; and formed in one with this
partition is a central tubular part f, through which the piston rod of the compressor
passes, and which serves to form part of the stuffing box for the said piston rod.
The tubular part f. will not of course be necessary at the other end of the
compressor cylinder, but only at that end through which the piston rod enters.
The inner portion A of the cover is secured to the outer portion D and also to
the body of the compressor cylinder by means of bolts.
The construction and operation of the suction and delivery valves B and C
shewn in the Drawings are substantially the same as those described in the
Specification of my Patent dated twenty-second June One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one, N° 2740, but by my improved construction of cylinder cover I am
enabled to fit the delivery valves within the said cover in a far superior manner.
In the Specification just referred to the seats of the discharge valves are
represented as screwed into holes tapped to receive them in the inner part of the
cover, and the guides for the stems of the delivery valves as forming an integral
part of the outer part of the cover.
Great care and accuracy of work were thus required in fitting the delivery valves
within the said cover.
By my present improvements however, I simply insert the delivery valve seats
in holes accurately bored in the inner portion of the cover A, and I attach the
guides for the delivery valve stems to the said delivery valve seats by screwing as
shewn in Fig: 1. Thus the delivery valves with their seats and guides are what I
call "self contained" or complete in themselves and are supported entirely by the
inner portion A of the cover; the outer portion D of the said cover not being

page_text: .
attached in any way to the said valves or valve guides, but serving merely when
bolted in position to prevent their endway displacement. This renders the accurate
fitting of the delivery valves a matter of ease and certainty.
It will be seen that the outer portion D of the cover bears closely against the
delivery valve seats as shewn at d. and against the outer ends of the delivery valve
guides as shewn at d. and that by removing the said portion D the delivery valves
with their guides and valve seats can be easily removed or got at for inspection or
repair.
The valve seats rarely require to be removed, and in order to facilitate the
removal of the delivery valves and their guides, which is more often necessary, I
provide openings in the casting D opposite the said valves and I fit them with a
readily detachable covering plate or plates D'.
The outer cover D has similar openings in it opposite the suction valves B, and
these are similarly provided with a detachable covering plate or plates. D' the said
detachable plates or covers being secured in place by two or more bolts.
It should be observed that the inner portion of the compressor cylinder cover
described in the Specification above referred to (N° 2740 1) which portion was of
brass, comprised a cylindrical part in which were the inlet and discharge openings
as well as a central cylindrical portion forming part of the stuffing box, whereas
by my present improvement the inner portion of the cover is merely a plain disc
of brass channelled and bored out as described, and the concentric cylindrical
portions of the cover now form a part of the outer cover which is of iron; from
which altered construction results not only greater convenience but economy in
manufacture.
The invention consists secondly in a novel combination of air cylinders. The
air expansion cylinder discharge is in connection with the discharge from an air
circulating cylinder.
The air from the latter is combined with the extreme cold air from the former
and tempers it, producing air of any desired degree of cold for the preservation of
perishable articles.
One method of combining the said two air cylinders is represented in diagram
plan view in Fig: 3 of the accompanying Drawing; but their relative arrangement
may be varied considerably to suit altered conditions as to the space available, the
position of the cold room, and the type of machine used.
In the diagram view ✗ represents the air expansion cylinder, x. is the cold air
delivery pipe, Y is the air circulating cylinder or pump, and y. is a pipe connecting
the cylinder Y with the cold air pipe at the point and leading thence to the
cold room.
The air circulating cylinder Y (it might be a fan or blower) is driven from any
suitable moving part of the refrigerating machine (such as the cross head, or a
prolongation thereof) and draws its air in from the cold room, or from the outside
of the cold room, or partly from each source.
Suitable valves or slides are arranged to allow of the temperature of the
air thus briskly circulated through the cold room, being regulated as circumstances
demand.
A convenient mode of effecting this regulation of the temperature is by
adjusting the admission valves of the air expansion cylinder so that the said
cylinder will yield a given suitable quantity of cold air which can be raised
to the required temperature by the air blended with it by the circulating
cylinder Y.
By this arrangement I obtain a large volume of air from a small sized machine,
and by blending the air from the air circulating cylinder with the extreme cold
air from the expansion cylinder, I get an extra large volume of air at any desired
temperature. This is especially valuable in the case of fruits and other delicate
articles which spoil when exposed to extremely cold air.-The air should be cold
and dry without frost and by the aid of the said air circulating cylinder, fan or
blower this end is attained.

page_text: The invention consists thirdly in adapting the bed plate of a refrigerating
machine, to, form or receive a condenser for the condensation of steam from the
steam cylinder or cylinders, the condenser and its air pump being fixed in the bed
plate, and such condensers and air pumps are combined in the bed plate with the
surface condenser or air coolers and refrigerators for the compressed air, described
in the Specification of my Patents dated April twelfth One thousand eight hundred.
and eighty, N° 1484, and December fourth One thousand eight hundred and eighty
N° 5060. The motion for working the air pump for the steam condenser may be
conveniently derived from the connecting rod of the refrigerating machine.
The circulating and feed water pumps are also connected to the same motion or.
are operated by a similar device.
This arrangement of apparatus is illustrated in plan view in Fig: 4, and in side
elevation in Fig: 5. The bed plate of the apparatus is adapted to contain the
compressed air coolers or refrigerators, the steam condenser and hot well for the
feed water together with the air and feed water pumps, while upon and above
the bed plate are arranged the air compressing cylinder, the steam cylinder or
cylinders, and the air expansion cylinder together with their appurtenances.
The air compressing and air expansion cylinders are preferably arranged in line,
and the steam cylinder is mounted alongside of and parallel to them, or in the
case of a compound steam engine the high and low pressure cylinders are also
arranged in line tandem fashion, and set the one alongside of the air compressor
and the other alongside of the air expansion cylinder, as shewn in Fig: 4 of the
Drawings.
Referring to the plan view and side elevation of the refrigerating machine
Figures 4 and 5, A is the high pressure steam cylinder and A' the low pressure
steam cylinder, whence motion is imparted to the crank shaft B.-C is the air
compressing cylinder and D the expansion cylinder arranged in line alongside
of the steam cylinders, and having motion transmitted to their pistons from the
crank shalt B. Below the steam cylinders and the air compressing and expansion
cylinders, are the compressed air coolers E and F, the former consisting of a series
of tubes around which water is caused to circulate and the latter consisting of a
series of tubes through which the compressed air passes and around which cold air
from the expansion cylinder D or the cold room is caused to circulate to still
further cool or refrigerate the compressed air.
I would however remark that in some cases the air refrigerator F may be
arranged elsewhere, and the entire space shown as occupied by E and F may be
used for surface condensers or compressed air coolers, such as E.
c indicates the inlet for air to be compressed and c' indicates the pipe for
conveying the compressed air to the cooler and refrigerator F above described.
f indicates the pipe by which the compressed and refrigerated air is led to the
expansion cylinder D to be finally expanded and diffused within the cold room.
The valves for the steam cylinders are operated by rods worked by excentrics
on the crank shaft B in the usual manner. -The action of the valves of the air
compressing cylinder is automatic and will be understood from the description
relating to Figures 1 and 2,
The inlet and discharge valves of the air expansion cylinder D are actuated
by means of a suitable arrangement of connecting rods and rocking arms keyed
on rock shafts to which motion is imparted from excentrica on the main crank
shaft.
Beneath this expansion valve gear and the cross-head guides of the steam
and air cylinders I arrange the steam condenser G, and in front of it and
midway between the two main connecting rods is the condenser air pump H.
Abreast of the said air pump are the feed water pumps I I one on each side of the
machine.
These three pumps are worked by arms keyed on a rock shaft K extending
across the machine and actuated by an arm fast on the rock shaft and conveniently
moved by a connecting rod L from the cross head of the steam cylinder piston rod.

page_text: A parallel motion is adapted to the connecting rod of the air pump G.
The condenser G is provided with the usual hot well and channels for the water
of condensation and the air and feed water pumps H, I I, are connected therewith
in the usual manner.
The cold water for the steam condenser G and compressed air cooler E is
circulated by pumps M M, arranged one on each side of the machine, and are
in connection with the fly wheels B¹ B¹ on the crank shaft B by excentric
pins b, b.
By this adaptation to the bed plate of the refrigerating machine of a steam
condenser and the air and feed water pumps in connection there with I am able
still further to economize space and render the refrigerating machine compact and
"self contained," a matter of the utmost importance on board ship
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Refrigerating Apparatus" and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim:
First Constructing the covers of air compressing cylinders in the manner
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings for
the purpose of enabling the delivery valves to be self contained and fitted with
greater accuracy than heretofore
Second The combination with the air expansion cylinder of a refrigerating
machine, of an air circulating cylinder, fan or blower, substantially as set forth,
whereby an increased volume of air of any desired temperature for the pre-
servation of fruits and other perishable products or substances is obtained and
circulated.
Third: The adaptation to the bed plate of a refrigerating machine of a steam
condenser air pump hot well and feed water pumps, as set forth whereby great
economy of space is ensured.
Fourth The combination with the steam cylinders A A' air compression and
expansion cylinders C, D, and bedplate of the machine containing within it
compressed air coolers or refrigerators such as E and F, of the steam condenser G,
air pump H, feed water pumps II and water circulating pumps M M as and for
the purpose described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Seale Haslam have hereunto set my hand
and seal the nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
А ОВАНЕ
SLALE ПASLAM
(L.F.)