IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY AIR REFRIGERATING AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND SHIPS, STORE ROOMS, AND OTHER STATIONARY REFRIGERATORS, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND PRESERVATION OF MEAT AND OTHER PERISHABLE ARTICLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Kennard Knott, of 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY AIR
REFRIGERATING AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY
CARRIAGES AND SHIPS, STORE ROOMS, AND OTHER STATIONARY REFRIGERATORS,
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND PRESERVATION OF MEAT AND OTHER PERISHABLE
ARTICLES."
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 20th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Kennard Knott at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1877.
KENNARD KNOTT, or 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY AIR REFRIGERATING AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,
APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND SHIPS, STORE ROOMS, AND OTHER
STATIONARY REFRIGERATORS, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND PRESERVATION OF
MEAT AND OTHER PERISHABLE ARTICLES."
The object of this Invention is improvements in the means and apparatus for
the preservation and transportation of meat and other perishable articles, whereby
such articles can be kept in a fresh state for a long period and at small cost.
In carrying out my Invention I condense all dampness from the air in the
apparatus, and produce any desired temperature, varying between thirty-three
degrees and fifty degrees Fahrenheit.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a refrigerating railway car or carriage.
I surround the sides, ends, top, and bottom of the carriage with any suitable non-
conducting substance and render it air-tight. In the top of the car I construct the
refrigerating apparatus consisting of a chamber or receiver for containing the
required refrigerating agents for producing the desired low temperature.
The depth of the receiver is increased in the centre and serves for the intro-
duction of the refrigerating agents from the top of the car through a door provided
for the purpose. A space is left between the top and ends of. the receiver, and the

page_text: non-conducting lining of the carriage for the passage of the air from the lower part
of the carriage, and which air becoming cooled in its passage passes down through
tubes provided for the purpose.
On the under side of the said receiver I fix a
series of gutters so arranged as to collect the condensed moisture and carry it to a
transverse gutter placed near one or both ends of the carriage, whence it passes
down a pipe or pipes to the outside of the carriage, the lower ends of the said pipes
being suitably sealed against the inlet of the external atmosphere; the series of
gutters allow the cold air to descend. From the bottom of the receiver passes a
pipe provided with a suitably placed stop-cock; this pipe communicates with a
coil of pipes passing round the inside of the carriage. The object of this arrange-
ment is, that when the refrigerating agents in the receiver are partially exhausted,
the said stop-cock is opened and the agents pass into the said coil, and when
thoroughly exhausted, are discharged through a cock at the bottom of the carriage.
The cocks being again closed the receiver is fitted with a fresh supply of refrigerating
agents.
For seagoing purposes the refrigerating apparatus is placed under the deck, and
is supported by cross beams and uprights, which uprights and beams may be
provided with rails and hooks on which the meat may be hung.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Kennard Knott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th February
1878.
KENNARD KNOTT, of 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY AIR REFRIGERATING AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,
APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND SHIPS, STORE ROOMS, AND OTHER
STATIONARY REFRIGERATORS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND PRESERVATION OF
MEAT AND OTHER PERISHABLE ARTICLES."
The object of this Invention is improvements in the means and apparatus for
the preservation and transportation or storage of meat and other perishable articles,
whereby such articles can be kept in a fresh state for a long period and at small
cost.
In carrying out my Invention I condense all dampness from the air in the
apparatus, and produce any desired temperature, varying between thirty-three
degrees and fifty degrees Fahrenheit.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
as applied to a refrigerating railway carriage or car, by reference to the accom-
panying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a refrigerating railway carriage or car constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2, a longitudinal section; and Figure 3, a
transverse section of the same.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar parts.
I surround or line the sides, ends, top, and bottom of the carriage with any
suitable non-conducting substance a, and render it air-tight. In the top of the car
I construct the refrigerating apparatus consisting of a chamber or receiver A, D,

page_text: for containing the required remigerating agents for producing the desired low
temperature.
The said chamber or receiver is constructed of any suitable metal, and is made
of the same width as the interior of the carriage, and is supported on suitable
ledges B, Figures 3 and 4, fixed along the sides of the carriage. A small space C is
left between the top and ends of the receiver A, D, and the non-conducting lining a
of the carriage for the passage of air, as herein-after described. The top part D of
the receiver A, D, is made somewhat shorter and narrower, but deeper than the
lower part A, as shewn, and serves for the introduction of, the, refrigerating agents,
such as ice and salt or other chemical refrigerating agents from the top of the car,
which is provided with air-tight closing doors M. for that purpose; b, b, b, are pipes
or tubes passing through the shallow part of the receiver or tank A, for the down-
ward passage of the cold air as herein-after described; c, c, similar pipes passing
in an oblique (or other) direction from top to bottom of the receiver or tank A, D.
On the under side of the said receiver I fix a series of gutters E, so arranged as to
collect the condensed moisture and carry it to a transverse gutter F placed at the
end of the carriage (or a gutter may be placed at both ends of the carriage); G is a
pipe carrying off the condensed moisture from the said gutter F, and discharging it
outside the carriage, the said pipe being provided with a syphon H (or other
suitable arrangement) at its lower end to prevent the inlet of the external air.
From the bottom of the receiver A passes a pipe I provided with a stop-cock J,
and communicating with the coil of pipes K passing round the inside of the carriage
as shewn, the lower end of the said coil passing out through the bottom of the
carriage where it is provided with a stop-cock L.
In some cases I cover these coils with similar gutters to those shewn at E, but I
place them vertically as shewn at E', Figure 4, and they serve to collect the mois-
ture which may arise from the melting of the rime which may form on the coil or
otherwise, such moisture being carried away by the gutter N and waste pipe O.
In a refrigerating car or carriage of this construction, the meat or other perishable
articles to be preserved and transported, or stored, is or are hung or packed in any
suitable manner, and the refrigerating agents are introduced into the receiver A, D,
through the doors M in sufficient quantities to produce the degree of temperature
required; the doors are then closed air-tight. The air in the car will in a short
time be brought to an even temperature, as the warmer portion of the air will
pass up through the spaces C to the top of the receiver A, D, and will become cool
and descend through the tubes b, b, b, and c, c, and any moisture which it may
contain will be condensed in these tubes and on the outside surface of the tank,
and be collected in the gutters E, the construction of the said gutters at the same
time allowing the cold air to pass downwards, as shewn by. the arrows. The
moisture collected in the said gutters (which are placed at a suitable fall) will run
into the transverse gutter F, whence it will be discharged through the waste pipe G
outside the carriage.
When the refrigerating agents in the. receiver A, D, shall have become partially
exhausted, the stop-cock J is turned on, and the partially exhausted agents will
pass into the coil K, and when thoroughly exhausted they are discharged through
the stop-cock L. The moisture condensed on the coil K will be collected in the
gutters E, Figure 4, and be carried away by the gutter N and waste pipe O. In
the meantime, the stop-cock J having been turned off, the receiver A has been
filled with a fresh supply of refrigerating agents. By this arrangement I am
enabled to fully utilize the refrigerating agents.
From the preceding description it will be seen that in a refrigerating carriage or
car constructed according to any Invention, there will be a circulation of the same
air, which will be constantly kept in a dry state, for any moisture therein, or which
may form therein from its contact with the neat or other articles in the carriage,
will be condensed, and then be collected in the gutters E and F, and E' and N, as
herein-before described, and be discharged outside the carriage.
For sea-going purposes the refrigerating apparatus is placed under the deck, and

page_text: is supported by cross beams and uprights, which uprights and beams may be pro-
vided with rails and hooks on which the meat may be hung.
When ice only is employed as the refrigerating agent, the tank requires to be
ventilated, and for this purpose the tank is provided with suitable valves.
Having thus described my said Invention and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention; but what I do claim is,—
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of a refrigerator car or store-
room for the transportation or preservation of meat and other perishable articles,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly. I claim a refrigerator car or store-room, in which the required low
temperature is produced from any suitable chemical agents or any known process
for producing cold enclosed within an air-tight tank or receiver, constructed as
described, and built within the car or store-room, which is made air-tight and non-
conducting, whereby the air in the said car or store-room is cooled without coming
into contact with the refrigerating agents as herein-before described.
Thirdly. In a refrigerating car or store-room constructed as herein-before described,
I claim the employment of gutters and waste pipe for collecting and discharging
the moisture from the rime, which forms on the surface of the tank and pipes
passing through the same, so that the air in the car or store-room is kept constantly
dry, as herein-before described.
Fourthly. I claim in a refrigerating car or store-room constructed as herein-before
described, the coil of pipes in connection with the tank, for utilizing to the full
extent the refrigerating agents employed as herein-before described.
Fifthly. I claim the vertically placed gutters for collecting and discharging the
moisture arising from the rime which forms on the said coil, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Kennard Knott, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,.
Patent Agent,
4, South Street,
Finsbury.
KENNARD KNOTT, (L.S.)