IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS OR APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO DISTILLATION, SURFACE CONDENSATION, HEATING AIR FOR BLAST FURNACES, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Morton, Engineer and Brass Founder,
Stockton-on-Tees, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS
OR APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO DISTILLATION, SURFACE CONDENSATION, HEATING AIR FOR BLAST
FURNACES, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 25th September 1862, and dated the 3rd April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Morton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd April 1862.
I, ROBERT MORTON, Engineer and Brass Founder, Stockton-on-Tees, <lo
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATORS OR APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO DISTILLATION, SURFACE CONDENSATION, HEATING AIR FOR
BLAST FURNACES, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain arrangements and improvements in that
class of refrigerators in which flattened or other shaped tubes are used for the
purpose of cooling liquids, worts, or other fluids. Other arrangements and
improvements are also applicable for purposes of distillation, surface conden-
sation, beating air for blast furnaces, and other similar purposes.
In these refrigerators the hot worts or other liquid enters the box or case at
the opposite end to that at which the cold water enters, passes underneath one
pipe, rises to its level, and then falls over the next pipe, and so on alternately

page_text: over one and under the next to the end of the apparatus, where it flows into
a reservoir at the end, and from thence into the tun, the cold water passing
away at the opposite end. In constructing these refrigerators, for preference
I use flattened tubes made of copper, throughly tinned, or other suitable metal
or otherwise; these tubes are strengthened internally with a sufficient number of
stays properly fixed, the full length of the tubes, these tubes being inserted at
each end into strong plates of copper or other metal perforated at proper distances
to receive the tubes, which are then connected alternately with hollow caps or
discs of copper or other metal secured to the plates and over the ends of two or
more tubes so as to admit of a continuous flow of cold water or other liquid
through the tubes. These caps or discs may be attached to the tubes by means
of flanges in various ways screwed together or united in any other convenient
manner. A longitudinal rib is fixed on the top of each alternate tube of
sufficient depth, and the bottoms of the alternate tubes are also connected by
a semicircular strip of copper or other metal, thereby forming a series of cells
or compartments between the tubes, causing a continuous flow of hot worts or
other liquids alternately under and over the external surfaces of the tubes, the
hot liquid and cold water thus flowing in opposite directions and being
discharged at opposite ends. The apparatus is fixed to a case of copper or
other metal & secured in a strong wooden or other suitable frame, and
can be ed either with open top or closed to prevent any atmospheric action
on the worts; the action can be reversed if preferred, the worts flowing inside
the tubes and the water outside. These refrigerators possess great cooling
power, and require a small proportionate quantity of -water; they also occupy
little room, and from their simplicity of construction they can be easily and
thoroughly washed clean, and manufactured at a reasonable cost.
Another part of this Invention relates to improved methods for discharging
any remaining worts or liquids, or for purposes of cleansing. For this purpose,
at the same time in all cases reserving to myself the power to vary the details
of my Invention, I employ long valves covering D-shaped openings or of any
other form at the ends of each cell or compartment to discharge the worts
from each compartment; these long valves are kept in their places whilst
working by weights and jointed levers placed above them, or in any other
convenient manner. These valves are opened when it is necessary to
discharge, and the remaining worts flow down a channel provided at
the side of the apparatus opposite. The valves pass through a sluice
valve into the reservoir at the end, and from thence into the tun as
before.
Another method I use for this purpose consists in providing a sufficient

page_text: channel of copper or other metal connected with each cell or compartment
between the tubes for purposes of discharge or cleansing, and placed under-
neath the tubes at the centre or other convenient position. I secure a strip
of india-rubber or other elastic material into the before-named channel,
and admitting water or other liquid between the channel and under the india-
rubber, thereby forcing the india-rubber or other elastic substance against
a web or rib secured to the bottom of each alternate tube for that purpose,
thereby securing the proper flow of the worts or other liquors; on the pressure
under the elastic substance being released it falls to the bottom of the channel
and allows the whole of the worts or other liquids to be discharged.
Another method I use for the saine purpose as above consists in attaching
a series of slide valves to the bottom of each alternate tube, which are
opened and shut by means of a continuous rod with lever placed at the
end, these valves being connected with the bottom of each cell or com-
partment, and discharging the worts into a channel of copper or other.
metal placed underneath the tubes at the centre or any other position.
Another part of my said Invention consists in using this apparatus for
purposes of distillation. In this arrangement the vapour is passed inside or
outside the flattened or circular tubes as may be desired, and the cold water
or other liquid is passed over the external or internal surface of the tubes in
opposite directions in the same manner as described for worts or other
liquids, placing the apparatus in an horizontal, vertical, or oblique position
as required. In like manner I apply a similar apparatus for purposes of
surface condensation, composed of tubes either flattened or circular, and
united in a series of two or more, connected at the ends, the steam or other
vapour passing under or over the external surface of each alternate series
in one direction and the water or other cooling liquid flowing inside the
tubes in an opposite direction, or the steam or other vapour may bo
admitted inside the tubes, the water or other fluid flowing outside in, an
opposite direction to the steam or other vapour.
In like manner I use a
similar appliance for purposes of heating air for blast or other furnaces,
composed of tubes flattened or circular, made of cast-iron or other suitable
metal, their ends being connected by circular socket pieces, flanges, or
in any other convenient manner, the air to be heated passing inside
the tubes in ono direction and the flame or hot gases issuing from furnaces
or other sources passing alternately under and over the tubes in an opposite
direction, the proper direction being given to the flame or hot gases by brick-
work being fixed to the alternate tubes or pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Morton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th September 1862.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MORTON, Engineer and Brass Founder, Stockton-on-Tees, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord'
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Morton, Her special licence, that I, the said Robert
Morton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Morton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all tinies
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might makë,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, au Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REFRIGERATORS OR APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO DISTILLATION, SURFACE CONDENSATION,'
HEATING AIR FOR BLAST FURNACES, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that 1, the said Robert Morton, my executors
or adminstrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and 'immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Morton do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, viz. :-
This Invention relates to certain arrangements and improvements in that
class of refrigerators in which flattened or other shaped tubes are used for the
purpose of cooling liquids, worts, or other fluids. Other arrangements and
improvements are also applicable for purposes of distillation, surface conden-
sation, and heating air for blast furnaces and other similar purposes.
In those refrigerators the hot worts or other liquid enters the box or case
at the opposite end to that at which the cold water enters, passes underneath
one pipe, rises to its level, and then falls over the next pipe, and so on alter-

page_text: nately over one and under the next to the end of the apparatus, where it flows
into a reservoir at the end, and from thence into the tun, the cold water
passing away at the opposite end. In constructing these refrigerators, for
preference I use flattened tubes made of copper thoroughly tinned, or other
suitable metal, or otherwise; these tubes are strengthened internally with a
sufficient number of stays properly fixed the full length of the tubes; these
tubes being inserted at each end into strong plates of copper or other metal
perforated at proper distances to receive the tubes, which are then connected
alternately with hollow caps or discs of copper or other metal secured to the
plates and over the ends of two or more tubes, so as to admit of a continuous
flow of cold water or other liquid through the tubes. These caps or discs
may be attached to the tubes by means of flanges in various ways, screwed
together or united in any other convenient manner. A longitudinal rib is
fixed on the top of each alternate tube of sufficient depth, and the bottoms of the
alternate tubes are also connected by a corrugated strip of copper or other metal,
thereby forming a series of cells or compartments between the tubes, causing
a continuous flow of hot worts or other liquids alternately under and over the
external surfaces of the tubes, the hot liquid and cold water thus flowing in
opposite directions, and being discharged at opposite ends. The apparatus is
fixed to a case of copper or other metal, and secured in a strong wooden or
other suitable frame; and can be used with open top, or closed to prevent
any atmospheric action on the worts. Their action can be reversed if preferred,
the worts flowing inside the tubes, and the water outside the tubes. These
refrigerators possess great cooling power, and require a small proportionate
quantity of water; they can be placed in any position, either upright, sloping,
or horizontal, occupying little room, and from their simplicity of construction
can be easily and thoroughly washed clean, and manufactured at a reasonable
cost.
Another part of this Invention relates to improved methods for discharging
any remaining worts or liquids, or for purposes of cleansing. For this purpose,
at the same time in all cases, reserving to myself the power to vary the details
of my Invention, I employ valves covering D-shaped openings, or of any
other form, at the ends of each cell or compartment to discharge the worts
from each compartment. These valves are kept in their places whilst working
by screws and levers, or in any other convenient manner. These valves are
opened when it is necessary to discharge, and the remaining worts flow down
a channel provided at the side of the apparatus opposite the valves, pass
through a sluice valve into the reservoir at the end, and from thence into the
tun as before.

page_text: Another method I use for this purpose consists in providing a sufficient
channel of copper or other metal connected with each cell or compartment
between the tubes for purposes of discharge or cleansing, and placed under-
neath the tubes at the centre or other convenient position. I secure a
strip of india-rubber or other elastic material into the before-named channel
and admitting water or other liquid between the channel, and under the
india-rubber, thereby forcing the india-rubber or other elastic substance
against a web or rib secured to the bottom of each alternate tube for
that purpose, thereby securing the proper flow of the worts or other liquors;
on the pressure under the elastic substance being released it falls to the
bottom of the channel and allows the whole of the worts or other liquids to
be discharged.
Another method I use for the same purpose as above, consists in attaching
a series of slide valves to the bottom of each alternate tube, which are opened
and shut by means of a continuous rod with lever placed at the end; these
valves being connected with the bottom of each cell or compartment, and
discharging the worts into a channel of copper or other metal placed under-
neath the tubes at the centre, or any other position.
Another part of my said Invention consists in using this apparatus for
purposes of distillation.
In this arrangement the vapour is passed inside or
outside the flattened or circular tubes as may be desired, and the cold water
or other liquid is passed over the external or internal surface of the tubes in
opposite directions in the same manner as described for worts or other liquids,
placing the apparatus in an horizontal, vertical, or oblique position as required.
In like manner I apply a similar apparatus for purposes of surface condensa-
tion composed of tubes either flattened or circular, or united in a series of
two or more connected at the ends, the steam or other vapour passing under
or over the external surface of each alternate series in one direction, and the
water or other cooling liquid flowing inside the tubes in an opposite direction,
or the steam or other vapour may be admitted inside the tubes, the water or
other fluid flowing outside in an opposite direction to the steam or other
vapour. In like manner I use a similar appliance for purposes of heating air
for blast or other furnaces composed of tubes flattened or circular, made of
cast iron or other suitable metal, their ends being connected by circular socket
pieces, flanges, or in any other convenient manner; the air to be heated
passing inside the tubes in one direction, and the flame or hot gases issuing
from furnaces or other sources passing alternately under and over the
tubes in an opposite direction, the proper direction being given to the flame or
hot gases by brickwork being fixed to the alternate tubes or pipes.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe the several illustrative figures upon the expla-
natory Sheets of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose
of shewing certain modifications under which my improvements may be
judiciously carried out into practice.
The Figures on Sheet A of the Drawings accompanying this Specification
illustrate one modification of my improvements in refrigerators. a, a, a, a, are
a series of flattened tubes made of copper (thoroughly tinned), or any other
suitable metal, and connected at the ends alternately by the caps b, b, b, b, so
as to admit of a continuous flow of cold water inside the tubes, the water
flowing in at the pipe c, and is discharged at the pipe d, the whole being fixed
to copper case n, n, n,. and secured in a strong wood frame e, e, e', e. The
caps b, b, b, b, are so arranged that they can be easily taken off.
The worts are admitted at end A (see arrow in section), and flow in an
opposite direction to the water as indicated by the arrows f, f. f. f, alternately
under and over the tubes, this motion being produced by the longitudinal
ribs 9, 9, 9, 9, on top, and the corrugated bottom h, h, h, h. The worts are
discharged at B, and from thence into the tun through the valve C.
)
The long valves D, D, covering the D-shaped openings i, i, i, i, shewn dotted
in Drawing (side elevation), are for the purpose of discharging the remaining
worts from each compartment. These valves D, D, are kept in. their places
while working by the screws and levers k, k, k, k. These are taken out for
discharging, and the worts flow down the channel E through the open sluice 6,
& are discharged through the valve C as before.
1
In Figs. 1 & 2, Sheet B, is shewn a modification of my Invention for the
purpose of heating air for blast or other furnaces. a, a, a, a, are a series of
flattened or circular tubes, through which the air to be heated passes in one
direction. The flame or hot gases issuing from the furnace b, b, or from
other sources, passes through amongst the tubes in the opposite direction to the
air, and heats the air contained in the tubes during its passage. Various
modes of connecting the pipes at their ends are shewn at c, d, e, f.
"
Figs. 3, 4, & 5, Sheet B, shew a modification of my Invention applied to
surface condensation. This apparatus is composed of tubes a, a, a, a, made
either of a flattened or circular shape. Various sections of the tube, are shewn
in Fig. 5, b, b, b, b, any one of which is available for the purpose. These
tubes are united in a series of two or more, and connected at the ends, the
steam or other vapour passing under. or over the external surfaces of the
tubes in the direction shewn by the arrows c, c, c, c, in Fig. 4, Sheet B, the

page_text: water flowing inside the tubes a, a, a, a, in an opposite direction to the steam,
or the steam may be inside the tubes, and the water outside.
Fig. 6, Sheet B, shews another method for discharging worts from re-
frigerators. I attach a series of slide valves a, a, a, a, to the bottom of each
alternate tube b, b, the valves being opened and shut by means of a continuous
rod with lever attached, which is placed at the end of the apparatus, and
discharging the worts into a channel underneath the tubes at the centre or
other position.
Fig. 7, Sheet B, exhibits another valve for discharging the worts; a
channel of copper a is placed underneath the tubes centrally, or in any other
position; a strip of india-rubber is placed in this channel, and water being
admitted beneath the india-rubber, it is forced against the bottom of each
alternate tube; on the pressure under the india-rubber being withdrawn,
it falls to the bottom of the channel, and the whole of the worts is thus
discharged.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe in conclusion, that I do not restrict or confine myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to mo by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
Firstly, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus for purposes
of cooling liquids, worts, and other fluids, in combination with mechanism
for discharging liquids, worts, and other fluids, as herein described and deli-
neated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, Sheet A, of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the novel arrangement and construction of mechanism for dis-
charging worts or other liquids from refrigerators, arranged and operated
substantially as herein set forth, and as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, Sheet A,
of the Drawings hereunto attached.
Thirdly, the novel mode of construction of valves for discharging worts, as
shewn in Figs. 6 & 7, Sheet B, of the Drawings hereunto attached.
Fourthly, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus for the
surface condensation of steam or other vapours, as herein described and shewn
in Figs. 3, 4, 5, Sheet B, of the Drawings hereunto attached.
Fifthly, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus for purposes
of distillation, as herein described and set forth.

page_text: Sixthly, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus for the pur-
pose of heating air for blast or other furnaces as herein described and shewn
in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet B, of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Morton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
M. HUNTER.
(L.S.) ROBERT MORTON.