IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CLEAR OR TRANSPARENT BLOCK ICE. IN MOULDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dowrie the elder, of Port Said in Egypt, at
present of 139 Cannon Street in the City of London for an Invention of
« IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CLEAR OR
TRANSPARENT BLOCK ICE. IN MOULDS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dowrie at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1882.
THOMAS DOWRIE the elder, of Port Said in Egypt, at present of 139 Cannon
Street in the City of London, "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF CLEAR OR TRANSPARENT BLOCK ICE IN MOULDS;"
The object of the present invention is to facilitate the liberation of air from
water during the process of congelation and consequently, the production of clear
or transparent blocks of ice free from white and rotten portions which invariably
occur when particles of air are allowed to be imprisoned in the blocks while
freezing.
According to this invention each of the moulds containing the water to be
frozen is suspended from two pins or studs rivetted or otherwise.fixed to the
outer sides of the said mould at or near the centre thereof in such manner that
when these pins or studs are caused to rest on or in suitable supports or
bearings provided for them in the congealing tank, the mould shall be free to swing
thereon.
These moulds are placed side by side in the congealing tank preferably in such
manner that two adjacent moulds rest by their respective centre pins or studs on
one fixed bearing. A horizontal rocking shaft runs across and over the tops of a
set of moulds suspended as above described, which rocking shaft carries at the
necessary distances apart a series of arms keyed or otherwise fixed thereto, each of
such arms projecting downwards between each pair of moulds respectively and
having a forked end which takes over pins or studs fixed on to the upper portion
D.....

page_text: of the sides of the two adjacent moulds and by preference immediately over the
beforementioned centre pins or studs. A partial reciprocating rotary motion is
imparted to this rocking shaft by any convenient or suitable means; the forked
arms are thereby moved backwards and forwards, and the moulds caused to swing
on their centre pins or studs.
Instead of a rocking shaft a reciprocating bar, or other suitable device may be
employed for effecting the swinging motion of the moulds.
The water in each mould is thus kept in constant agitation, the air is
prevented from being imprisoned in the crystals of ice as they form, and
transparent blocks of ice are thereby ensured. No agitators or other apparatus
being used in the mould itself, the agitation can be continued until the block of ice
is completed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Dowrie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th April
1883.
THOMAS DOWRIE the elder, of Port Said in Egypt, at present of 139 Cannon
Street in the City of London" "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF CLEAR OR TRANSPARENT BLOCK ICE IN MOULDS."
The object of the present invention is to facilitate-the liberation of air from
the water during the process of congelation, and consequently the production of
clear or transparent blocks of ice free from white and rotten portions which
invariably occur when particles of air are allowed to be imprisoned in the blocks.
while freezing.
According to this invention each of the moulds containing the water to be
frozen is suspended from two fulcrum pins or studs, rivetted or otherwise fixed to
the outer sides of the said mould, preferably at or near the centre thereof, in such
manner that when these pins or studs are caused to rest on or in suitable supports
or bearings provided for them in the congealing tank, the mould shall be free to
swing, oscillate, or rock thereon.
In the drawings Figure 1 represents a .transverse section of a congealing tank
with two sets of the swinging or oscillating moulds arranged therein. Figure 2
represents part of a longitudinal section of same moulds being shown in elevation
in both Figures.
The moulds A, A, are placed side by side in the congealing tank B, being
immersed to the required depth in the non congealable liquid contained therein,
and preferably in such manner that two adjacent moulds rest by their respective
fulcrum pins or studs C, C, on one fixed bearing D. A horizontal rocking shaft E
runs across and over the tops of a set of moulds suspended as above described,
which rocking shaft carries at the necessary distances apart a series of arms F
keyed or otherwise fixed thereto, each of such arms projecting downwards between
each pair of moulds respectively, and having a forked end which takes over
actuating pins or studs G, G fixed on to the upper portion of the sides of the two
adjacent moulds, and by preference immediately over the beforementioned centre
pins or studs C, C. A partial rotary motion is imparted to this rocking shaft by
power applied to the lever H from an eccentric or crank on a countershaft or by
any other convenient or suitable means; the forked arms F are thus caused to
oscillate, and the moulds are thereby caused to swing, oscillate, or rock on their
centre pins or studs C, C, backwards and forwards alternately into the positions
illustrated in full lines and dotted lines respectively. When two or more rows of
moulds are employed the levers H on the rocking shafts E may be connected
together by a rod I which communicates the rocking motion from one to
another.
The water in each mould is kept in constant agitation by the swinging,
oscillating, or rocking motion thus imparted to such moulds, and the said water is
caused to wash over the surfaces of the ice as it forms in the moulds, the air is
thereby prevented from becoming imprisoned in the crystals of ice as they form,
and transparent blocks of ice are thereby ensured. No agitators or other apparatus
being used in the mould itself the agitation can be continued until the blocks of
ice are completely congealed.
Instead of the rocking shaft E a reciprocating bar or other suitable device, with
the arms F fixed thereon, may be employed for effecting the swinging, oscillating
or rocking motion of the moulds.

page_text: It will be understood that when the blocks of ice are completed, and it is desired
to remove the moulds from the congealing tank, the rocking shafts E with their
arms F, are lifted out of their bearings to admit of such removal.
Having now described the nature of the said invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise mechanical details described and illustrated
for effecting the swinging, oscillating or rocking motion of the moulds, as they may
be varied according to requirements without departing from the nature of my
invention, but what I do claim is:-
Firstly. In apparatus for manufacturing blocks of ice in moulds, causing such
moulds to swing, oscillate or rock in the congealing tank so as to keep the
water contained in such moulds in motion while the ice is being formed
therein, for the purpose of producing clear or transparent icc, as hereinbefore
described.
Secondly. The combination with the moulds AA of the fulcrum pins or studs
C, C, actuating pins or studs G, G, horizontal rocking shaft E, and actuating
arms F, (or in the alternative for the rocking shaft E a reciprocating bar
with the said, arms F fixed thereon), arranged, adapted, and operating in
connection with a congealing tank, as herein before described, and illustrated
in the drawings hereto annexed, and for the purpose specified.
:
•
In witness whereof I, the said Thomas Dowrie the elder have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty-seventh day of March in the year of our
Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.