IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS AND OTHERWISE."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph James Coleman, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING
APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS AND OTHERWISE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph James Coleman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1882.
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARatus to be USED ON RAILWAYS AND
OTHERWISE.
"
This Invention bas principally for its object to provide arrangements of apparatus
for refrigerating or cooling carriages or trucks during transit on railways for the
purpose of preserving meat or other perishable goods or for maintaining an agreable
or suitable temperature for passengers and live stock or for other similar purposes.
The apparatus to be used in carrying out the Invention operates to a great extent
like apparatus described in the Specifications of Patents granted to Henry Bell,
James Bell, and the present applicant and numbered 1034 of 1877, 3862 of 1878
and 4191 of 1879; but the parts are arranged or combined in a novel manner and
so as to be conveniently locomotive being carried on a framing on wheels adapted
for forming part of a railway train. Such locomotive refrigerating apparatus may
however also be used with advantage otherwise than in running trains, as for
example, for cooling sheds or stores at railway stations or at any places accessible
by a machine on wheels. The apparatus constituting the present Invention also
comprises some improvements which are applicable to stationary refrigerating
apparatus or to refrigerating apparatus fitted on board ship.
Machines of the kind described in the Specifications hereinbefore referred to
might be made of sizes suitable for being put each in an ordinary railway truck or
carriage and for being worked off the axles of the truck or carriage; but each
such machine would require a separate attendant or attendants, and would on

page_text: many accounts be quite unsuitable for trains composed of ten, twenty or more
trucks or carriages. Such an arrangement would necessitate an inconvenient
number of attendants and would abstract too much of the power employed to
draw the train.
According to the present Invention the machinery for producing cold air for
several trucks or carriages or for an entire train is carried upon a separate frame
on wheels and comprises a steam boiler and a steam cylinder or cylinders for
supplying the driving power required. The boiler with its firebox and tubes and
accessories may very conveniently be like those of an ordinary railway locomotive
and be mounted on a wrought-iron framing upon railway wheels. There may be a
tender or separate framing on wheels to carry fuel and water, or the receptacles for
these may be on the main framing. In one modification the cylinders forming the
principle part of the air cooling machinery are arranged along each side of the
main framing, there being at each side a steam cylinder and a compressing cylinder,
which are connected to cranks at right angles to each other on a transverse shaft,
this arrangement dispensing with the heavy flywheel otherwise required. There
may be a single expansion cylinder for the compressed air in line with the steam
or compressing cylinders on one side or there may be an expansion cylinder on
each side. In another modification a single expansion cylinder is placed vertically
at what may be termed the front end of the locomotive being connected to a
transverse crank shaft, which has also connected to it the horizontal steam and
compressing cylinders. The arrangement is also susceptible of further modification
to suit various circumstances and requirements; and any of the cylinders may be
placed horizontally, vertically, or obliquely.
The cooled air from the expansion cylinder or cylinders is conveyed to the
carriages or trucks by means of ducts or trunks provided with flexible or jointed
connections between the carriages or trucks, there being by preference a single
main trunk arranged' along either the tops or bottoms of the carriages or trucks
such trunk being provided with suitable valves and openings-or-branch-pipes-in-
connection with each carriage or truck for the proper distribution of the cold air
therein.
In connection with the refrigerating machinery the provision for cooling the
compressed air consists by preference of a pump for injecting a small quantity of
water into the compressed air and trap valves for withdrawing the water. And
the water thus used or other water is distributed in thin films or spray over the
external surfaces of a series of pipes through which the compressed air passes on
its way to the expansion cylinder or cylinders. The pipes are exposed to external
currents of air to promote evaporation of the water from their surfaces, and so that
the great cooling action due to such evaporation may be availed of for further
cooling the compressed air; and to still further promote the evaporation the pipes
may be coated with fibrous or porous substances which will absorb the water and
present it on enlarged surfaces to the evaporating action. This improved arrange-
ment or apparatus for cooling the compressed air is advantageously applicable
wherever water is scarce or when it is inconvenient to carry large quantities of it.
Where the supply of cold water is sufficiently abundant it may be applied in
jackets or casings surrounding the compressing cylinders, and pipes or passages
through which the compressed air is passed, but the method and apparatus
herein before described will in many cases be found more economical and generally
preferable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph James Coleman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st August 1882.
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS AND
OTHERWISE."
My said Invention has principally for its object to provide arrangements of
apparatus for refrigerating or cooling carriages or trucks during transit on railways
for the purpose of preserving meat or other perishable goods or for maintaining an
agreeable or suitable temperature for passengers and live stock or for other similar
purposes. The apparatus to be used in carrying out my Invention operates to a
great extent like apparatus described in the Specifications of Patents granted to
Henry Bell, James Bell, and myself and numbered 1034 of 1877, 3862 of 1878,
and 4191 of 1879; but the parts are arranged or combined in a novel manner and
so as to be conveniently locomotivo' being carried on a framing on wheels adapted
for forming part of a railway train. Such locomotive refrigerating apparatus may
however also be used with advantage otherwise than in running trains, as, for
example, for cooling sheds or stores at railway stations or at any places accessible
by a machine on wheels. The apparatus constituting the present Invention also
comprises some improvements which are applicable to stationary refrigerating
apparatus or to refrigerating apparatus fitted on board ship.
Machines of the kind described in the Specifications hereinbefore referred to
might be made of sizes suitable for being put each in an ordinary railway truck or
carriage and for being worked off the axles of the truck or carriage; but each such
machine would require a separate attendant or attendants, and would on many
accounts be unsuitable for trains composed of ten, twenty or more trucks or
carriages. Such an arrangement would necessitate an inconvenient number of
attendants and would abstract too much of the power employed to draw the
train.
According to my present Invention the machinery for producing cold air for
several trucks or carriages or for an entire train is carried upon a separate frame on
wheels and comprises a steam boiler and a steam cylinder or cylinders for
supplying the driving power required. The boiler with its firebox and tubes and
accessories may very conveniently be like those of an ordinary railway locomotive
and be mounted on a wrought-iron framing upon railway wheels. There may
be a tender or separate framing on wheels to carry fuel and water, or the
receptacles for these may be on the main framing.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory Drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing examples of my improved apparatus
or arrangements.
Figure, 1, on Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation of one
modification of my locomotive refrigerating apparatus and Figures 2 and 3 are
respectively, an enlarged side elevation and a sectional end elevation of the
principal part of the machinery. Figures 4, and 5 on Sheet, 2, are respectively a
sectional side elevation and a horizontal section of a second modification of my
locomotive refrigerating apparatus Figure, 6, being a transverse vertical section of
a part of the apparatus. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used
to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The machinery for producing cold air for several trucks or carriages or for an
entire train is carried on a separate frame, 41, on wheels, 42, and comprises a steam

page_text: boiler, 43, and a steam cylinder or cylinders, 44, for supplying the driving power
required. The boiler, 43, with its firebox and tubes and accessories may very
conveniently be like those of an ordinary railway locomotive, and be mounted on
a wrought-iron framing, 41, like that of a locomotive. There may be a tender, 45,
or separate framing on wheels, as shown, to carry fuel and water; or if convenient
the receptacles for these may be on the main framing, 41. In one modification
shown in Figures, 4, and 5, on Sheet, 2, of the Drawings, the cylinders forming the
principle part of the air cooling machinery, are arranged along each side of the
main framing, 41, there being at each side, a steam cylinder, 44, and a compressing
cylinder, 13, which are connected to cranks at right angles to each other on a
transverse shaft, 46, this arrangement dispensing with the heavy flywheel other-
wise required. There may be a single reexpansion cylinder, 14, for the compressed
air in line with the steain and compressing cylinders, 44, 13, on one side as shown
in Figure, 5, or there may be a reexpansion cylinder, 14, on each side. In another
modification shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3, there are two reexpansion cylinders, 14,
placed vertically at what may be termed the front end of the locomotivo, being
connected to cranks or eccentrics on the transverse shaft, 46, which is placed
beneath them and has also connected to it the piston rods of the steam and com-
pression cylinders, 44, 13. The arrangement of the various cylinders is also
Busceptible of further modification to suit various circumstances and requirements ;
and any of the cylinders may be placed horizontally, vertically, or obliquely.
The cooled air from the reexpansion cylinder or cylinders, 14, is conveyed to the
carriages or trucks, 47, by means of ducts or trunks, 30, provided with flexible or
jointed connections between the carriages or trucks, there being by preference a
single main trunk 30, arranged along either the tops or bottoms of the carriages or
trucks, such trunk being provided with suitable valves and openings or branch
nines in connection with each carriage or truck for the proper distribution of the
In connection with the refrigerating machinery the provision for cooling the
compressed air consists by preference of a pump, 48, for injecting a small quantity
of water into the air whilst being compressed, and trap valves for withdrawing the
water from the casings, 26, into which the air passes from the compressing
cylinders, 13. And the water thus used, or other water, is distributed in thin
films or sprays on the external surfaces of a series of pipes, 12, through which the
compressed air passes on its way to the reexpansion cylinder or cylinders, 14. The
pipes, 12, which are best shown in Figures, 6, 7, and 8, are exposed to external
currents of air to promoto evaporation of the water from their surfaces, and so
that the great cooling action due to such evaporation may be availed of for
further cooling the compressed air; and to still further promote the evapo-
ration the pipes may be coated with fibrous or porous substances which will
absorb the water and present it on enlarged surfaces to the evaporating action. As
shown in Figure, 6, the water is supplied to a shallow trough 49, the bottoin of
which is formed with grooves perforated along their bottoms and running along
above the pipes, 12. This improved arrangement or apparatus for cooling the
compressed air is advantageously applicable wherever water is scarce, or when it is
inconvenient to carry large quantities of it. Where the supply of cold water is
sufficiently abundant it may be applied in jackets or casings surrounding the
compressing cylinders, 13, and pipes, 12, or passages through which the compressed
air is passed but the method or apparatus that has been described will in many
cases be found more economical and generally preferable.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The combination of apparatus for mechanically cooling air, in which cylinders
for the compression and reexpansion of the air are arranged upon a locomotive

page_text: framing on wheels together with a steam boiler with one or more steam motor
cylinders, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
2. The apparatus bereinbefore described for cooling the compressed air and
consisting of pipes through which the air passes, and of means whereby water is
supplied to the outsides of the pipes in films or spray to be evaporated through
exposure to currents of air, such apparatus being combined with cylinders for the
compression and reexpansion of the air substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I, the said Joseph James Coleman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirty-first day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand sight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness.
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
J. J. COLEMAN. (L.S.)