AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATING AND FREEZING
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the
City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATING AND FREEZING."
Sealed the 9th April 1861, and dated the 15th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
October 1860.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATING AND FREEZING,"
(a communication from abroad by Ferdinand Philippe Edouard Carré, of
Paris,) to be as follows:-
It is well known to chemists that some bodies have the property, when
exposed to cold, of absorbing considerable quantities of gas or vapoirs, and of
emitting the same under the influence of heat, for example, water, chloride of
silver,and chloride of calcium absorb (when exposed to cold) trom five hundred'
Price

page_text: to seven hundred times their volume of ammoniacal gas; oils will absorb,
under the same circumstances, almost equal volumes of certain ethereal gases,
such as hydrochloric ether; various salts and acids absorb also considerable
volumes of the vapors of water, alcohol, ether, and so on; it is useless to
extend further this vocabulary, suffice it to say that this Invention is based
upon the absorption in closed vessels of liquified gases or condensed vapors by
any absorbent body, for the production of cold, the separation and dissolution
by heat accompanied by liquefaction in another vessel communicating with the
former, under the influence of tension combined with a lower temperature,
followed by the re-absorption by the desaturated or impoverished liquid or
body when it is submitted to the action of cold.
The operation may be intermittentor continuous byusingapparatusspecially
arranged for that purpose, but for the sake of example I shall firstly describe
an intermittent apparatus capable of being applied to domestic purposes, and
acting by means of a concentrated solution of ammoniacal gas in water, which,
if not the most suitable agent, is, however, the most readily obtainable. The
ammoniacal solution is to be in a vessel hermetically closed, and capable of
supporting a pressure of from eight totenatmospheres, at least, communicating
at its upper part by means of a tube or tubes with another vessel of a capacity
four or five times less. The vessel containing the solution is to be heated to
about one hundred and twenty degrees to one hundred and thirty degrees,
whilst the other is plunged into cold water, the gas is set at liberty and becomes
liquefied in the smaller vessel. When the liquefaction or condensation is
complete, the vessel containing the desaturated water is placed in contact
with a sufficient quantity of cold water, and that enclosing the liquefied gas is
placed in contact with the liquid to be refrigerated or frozen.
To render the operation continuous the vessel or boiler containing the
ammoniacal solution should communicate with a worm or tubular apparatus
(constantly cooled by running water) in which the gas will liquefy, and whence
it will be directed into an apparatus arranged for transmitting the cold pro-
duced to the water or liquid to be refrigerated. The receiver containing the
liquefied gas will communicate with an absorbing vessel wherein the gas will
be redissolved in water, which will serve as a vehicle for transmitting it again
to the first-named vessel or boiler, which is effected by a pump actuated
externally, or rendered automatical by causing the gas from the boiler to act
against the piston; the water for the absorbing vessel'should be supplied from
the boiler, and taken from the lower part of the same where it will be almost
exhausted of gas. The exhausted water and the saturated water should be
caused to circulate in opposite directions to exchange their temperatures in a

page_text: tubular apparatus, or in two worms placed concentricallyone within the other,
so that the saturated water shall pass to the boiler ata temperature approaching
that of the latter, and the exhausted or desaturated water will arrive cold at
the absorbing vessel; the cooling of the latter can be further ensured by
contact with cold water before its arrival at the absorbing vessel, which should
be constantly cooled on account of the caloric disengaged by the dissolution of
the gas in the water. The taps employed on this apparatus are such as will
not allow of the possibility of any leakage, and their interior organs are moved
either by a flexible metallic plate or a bent tube, or by the elongation or
flexion ofindia-rubber membranes or tubes supported exteriorlyso as to resist
the pressure. The cold produced by these means may be applied for the
manufacture of ice, refrigerating or cooling liquids, air, and so forth, or to
facilitate the crystallization or precipitation of different chemical products, for
instance, the precipitation of sulphate of soda from the mother waters of sea
salt, paraffine, and so on, or for the separation of water from various salts or
other bodies, which it leaves on congelation, such as the manufacture of fresh
ice and salts from sea water, or to moderate the heat produced during fermen-
tation, especially that of beer, wine, or vinegar.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
April 1861.-
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS' SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty,in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did; for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said George Davies, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A IMPROVED METHOD OP AND

page_text: APPARATUB FOR REFRIGERATING AND FREEZING," being a communication to me
from abroad by Ferdinand Philippe Edouard Carré, of Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Davies, my executors or adminis
trators, 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 George Davies, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
followingstatementin writing, and on referencetothe accompanying Drawings,
that is to say-
It is well known to chemists that some bodies have the property, when
exposed to cold, of absorbing considerable quantities of gas or vapors, and of
emitting the same under the influence of heat; for example, water, chloride
of silver, and chloride of calcium absorb (when exposed to cold) from 500 to
700 times their volume of ammoniacal gas; oils will absorb under the same
circumstances almost equal volumes of certain ethereal gases, such as hydro-
chloric ether; various salts and acids absorb also considerable volumes of the
vapors of water, alcohol, ether, and so on; it is useless to extend further this
vocabulary, suffice it to say, that this Invention is based upon the absorption
in closed vessels of liquefied gases, or condensed vapors by any absorbent
body, for the production of cold, the separation and dissolution by heat,
accompanied by liquefaction in another vessel communicating with the former
under the influence of tension, combined with a lower temperature, followed
by the re-absorption by the desaturated or impoverished liquid or body when
it is submitted to the action of cold.
The operation may be intermittent or continuous, by using apparatus
specially arranged for that purpose; but for the sake of example, I shall firstly.
describe an intermittent apparatus capable of being applied to domestic
purposes, and acting by means of a concentrated solution of ammoniacal gas
in water, which, if not the most suitable agent, is, however, the most readily
obtainable. The ammoniacal solution is to be placed in a vessel hermetically
closed,and capable of supporting a pressure of from eight to ten atmospheres
at least, communicating at its upper part by means of a tube or tubes with
another vessel of a capacity four or five times less. The vessel containing the
solution is to be heated to about one hundred and twenty degrees to one
hundred and thirty degrees, whilst the other is plunged into cold water; the

page_text: gas is set at liberty, and becomes liquefied in the smaller vessel. When the
liquefaction or condensation is complete, the vessel containing the desaturated
water is placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of cold water, and that.
enclosing the liquefied gas is placed in contact with the liquid to be refrigerated
or frozen.
To render the operation continuous the vessel or boiler containing the
ammoniacal solution should communicate with a worm or tubular apparatus
(constantly cooled by running water), in which the gas will liquefy, and
whence it will be directed into an apparatus arranged for transmitting the
cold produced to the water or liquid to be refrigerated. The receiver con-
taining the liquefied gas will communicate with an absorbing vessel, wherein
the gas will be redissolved in water, which will serve as a vehicle for trans-
mitting it again to the first-named vessel or boiler, which is effected by a
pump actuated externally, or rendered automatical by causing the gas from
the boiler to act against the piston; the water for the absorbing vessel should
be supplied fron the boiler, and taken from the lower part of the same, where
it will be almost exhausted of gas. The exhausted water and the saturated
water should be caused to circulate in opposite directions to exchange their
temperatures in a tubular apparatus, or in two worms placed concentrically;
one within the other, so that the saturated water shall pass to the boiler at a
temperature approaching that of the latter, and the exhausted or desaturated
water will arrive cold at the absorbing vessel; the cooling of the latter can be
further ensured by contact with cold water before its arrival at the absorbing
vessel, which should be constantly cooled on account of the caloric disengaged
by the dissolution of the gas in the water. The taps employed on this.
apparatus are such as will not allow of the possibility of any leakage, and
their interior organs are moved either by a flexible metallic plate, or a bent
tube, or by the elongation or flexion of india-rubber membranes or tubes..
supported exteriorly, so as to resist the pressure. The cold produced by these
means may be applied for the manufacture of ice, refrigerating or cooling
liquids, air, and so forth, or to facilitate the crystallization or precipitation of..
different chemical products; for instance, the precipitation of sulphate of soda-
from the mother waters of sea salt, paraffine, and so on, or for the separation
of water from various salts or other bodies, which it leaves on congelation,
such as the manufacture of fresh ice and salts from sea water; or to moderate
the heat produced during fermentation, especially that of beer, wine, or
vinegar.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for "An Improved
Method of and Apparatus for Refrigerating aud Freezing," I will proceed to:

page_text: describe the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be distinctly
understood, I 'have annexed hereunto two Sheets of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to
say:-
In Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings, Figure 1 represents a continuous
apparatus working by means of ammoniacal gas, which, by reason of its
stability, of its great solubility in water and of the quantity of caloric which
it absorbs in passing from the liquid to the gaseous state, appears to be the
most suitable agent to employ.
The proportions of this apparatus are adapted to make about one hundred
kilogrammes of ice in an hour. In the boiler A (heated by an open fire, or
by means of steam circulating in the coiled pipe a,) is enclosed a concentrated
aqueous solution of ammonia; the gas volatilized by the action of the heat
traverses a coiled pipe B placed above the boiler, and in which the steam
brought over is condensed. A tube C conveys the gas into a tubular con-
denser D, where it becomes liquefied by the combined action of the pressure
from the boiler (from eight to nine atmospheres), and of a current of cold
water at a temperature of about fifteen or twenty degrees. The ammoniacal
liquid runs from the condenser by the lower tubee, passes through the vessel z
at a regulated speed, as hereafter described, and thence by the pipe e', ell, to
the refrigerator F. From the upper part of the refrigerator F a pipe G
leads to the absorption vessel H, in which a current of water flows into the
shallow perforated vessel h, whence it continually falls in drops. The affinity
of the ammonia and the water creates in this vessel a tension considerably less
at a temperature of fifteen or twenty degrees than that maintained in the
refrigerator by the ammoniacal liquid, which is about two atmospheres, at'a
temperature of, minus eighteen degrees, and the gas flows thither with energy,
borrowing its latent caloric of vaporization from the sides of the refrigerator
and the water which touches them. The water saturated with ammonia
collects in the bottom of the vessel H, whence it is drawn out' by a pump
which forces it into the closed receiver which surrounds the worm B, after it
has previously traversed a tubular apparatus, where it is heated, as will be
presently explained. From the receiver B it flows by the tube 6 into the
upper part of the boiler A.
On the other haud the ammoniacal solution contained in the boiler towards
the lower part becomes impoverished, and at the bottom, after a certain time,
it is almost exhausted, but as it still contains some ammonia (and as, moreover

page_text: a greater, waste would occur in allowing it to run away hot) it becomes when
suitably cooled subservient to the purposes of absorption, and for this end it
is withdrawn by the pipe j to the upper part of the regenerator K, in which
the water saturated in the absorption vessel circulates in the 'reverse direction,
and the interchange of temperatures here takes place in consequence of the
numerous points of contact presented by the small tubes. A counterpoised
float L, L, placed in the boiler opens or shuts (by means of the valve ¹¹) the
orifice of the tube j, so that the rising or falling of the level of the liquid
regulates the flow of the latter in proportion to the quantity restored. It is
scarcely necessary to observe that the liquids circulate the one in the interior
of the group of tubes, and the other outside the same, thus exchanging their
temperatures without the possibility of mixing. As the exchange of tem-
peratures between the two liquids cannot take place absolutely, the cooling of
the liquid which comes from the boiler is completed by its passage through a
worm m surrounded with water. is a tube which leads from the regenerator
to the worm and by means of the tubej" to the absorption vessel. A cock o
placed on the tube; serves to stop the circulation; 6, 61, are tubes leading
from the pump I to the receiver B. The tube e¹, which conducts the ammo
niacal liquid to the refrigerator, is coiled round the tube G, in order to cool the
liquid by contact with the cold vapors which circulate therein; it is furnished
near to the refrigerator with a cock, which serves to regulate or intercept the
flow of the liquified gas. As the absorption of the ammoniacal gas by the
water in the vessel H cannot take place without imparting to the water all
the caloric taken from the refrigerator by the gaseification of the ammonia, a
suitable temperature is maintained in the said vessel by the circulation of cold
water in a jacket surrounding the same, or through an internal worm, as
shewn by dotted lines.
To put the apparatus in operation the ammoniacal solution in the boiler A
(which should be nearly full) must be heated until the interior pressure is
rather more than that of the atmosphere; the cock e must then be opened in
order to allow of the emission of all the air from the interior; this emission
takes place through the tube and cock h, which is plunged into cold water,
and it will be evident that the expulsion is complete, as soon as the whole of
the gaseous current is absorbed by the water. As soon as this is effected the
cock hu must be closed, and time must be given for a sufficient quantity of
ammoniacal liquid to be deposited in the refrigerator F, which can readily be
ascertained by means of the level tube . The refrigerator K having been
previously filled with pure water or weak ammonia in the part which com-
municates, with the bottom of the boiler and with a concentrated ammoniacal

page_text: solution in the part which communicates with the top of the same, the con-
tinuous operation may then be commenced as soon as the cock o in the tube j
has been opened and the pump I set in action. A small tube nfurnished
with a cock, leads from the bottom of the refrigerator F to the suction tube of
the pump, in order to allow of the return to the boiler of the liquefied ammonia,
when after a certain time of use it becomes mixed with the water carried over
in the form of vapor by the gas. A cock placed on the pipe G communicating
from the refrigerator to the absorption vessel will facilitate this extraction by
closing the same more or less,so as to establish a stronger differential pressure
between the two receivers. The refrigerator F is a closed vessel, the cover
thereof being pierced with holes, in which are soldered tubes f", closed at the
bottom, and open at the top. The liquefied ammonia surrounds these tubes to
about four-fifths of their height in the interior of the refrigerator. In the
cavities or cells formed by these tubes are introduced cylindrical vessels of
rather smaller diameter containing the water to be frozen. The most
intimate or perfect contact between these vessels and the sides of the cells f",
is maintained by means of a liquid which only freezes at a very low tem-
perature, such as alcohol,glycerine, a saturated solution of chloridé of calcium,
sea salt, or other suitable medium. The worm B may be dispensed with, and
the vessel which surrounds it transformed into a kind of washing vessel, in
which the gas proceeding from the boiler by the dotted tuber divests itself of
the aqueous vapor carried over. In this case the tube b¹ must be united to
the receiver, as shewn by the dotted lines y, and, if necessary, both receivers
may be joined to the boiler; the gas will then pass first into the washing vessel
and then into the worm. The float and valve L, ", are not absolutely
necessary, as the flowing out of the desaturated liquid can be regulated by the
cock o, on the spindle of which a graduated quadrant may be placed to
determine the amount of action desired to be given to the machine. The
.tube G of the refrigerator can also be plunged to the bottom of the absorption
vessel H, and its orifice (terminated by a rose) be directed at right angles to
the radius of the vessel, in order to impart a gyratory motion to the liquid
mass of which the points of contact with the worm and the sides of the vessel
will thus be rapidly renewed, which will greatly aid the refrigeration. In
this case the shallow perforated vessel h¹ will be dispensed with, and the
tube placed about the middle of the vessel H.
Certain details of the construction of the regulating vessel z are represented
on a larger scale at Figure 1*. a is the bottom of the outer casing; b; the
bottom of an interior vessel (open at the top), having a specific weight equal
..to about half that of the liquid of which it is to regulate the flow; cis a tube,

page_text: closed at the bottom, and furnished with a square enlargement'd, furnished
with a lateral opening sliding against the face of another opening which
terminates the exit tube e. The liquid flowing into the casing floats the
vessel b, and causes the openings to diverge or separate; as soon as it arrives
at the upper edge of the vessel bit flows into the interior of the same, which
sinks in proportion as it fills, and brings the openings opposite to each other.
It will be perceived that this system of regulating vessel will only let the liquid
'pass in proportion to its arrival and without mixing with the gas, which would
be detrimental to the proper working of the apparatus. An ordinary solid
counter-balanced float of any ceramic material, opening and closing the aper-
ture of the tube e as the liquid rises and falls would answer the e same end.
The
pump I should be furnished with a double packing of india-rubber or
other material enclosing an open space, from which a tube extends con-
ducting the filtrations to a receiver ". In place of the pump I, one similar
to that exhibited in section at Figure 2 may be used, A being the cylinder
and B the piston, which is hollow and light, having a specific weight of about
half the liquid which it is intended to force into the boiler, and on the surface
of which liquid it should float. The body of the pump communicates with the
absorption vessel H by the tubes C & D, and with the boiler by the pipes F
and G. The liquid enters the pump below the piston by the tube raising
the valve c',and causes the piston to rise to the top of the pump. When thé
latter is full the cock D' must be shut, and the cock F¹ placed on the tube F
which leads to the upper part of the boiler occupied by the gas must be
opened, and the pressure of the gas on the upper surface of the piston will
then cause the liquid to flow out by the valve G¹ and pipe G. This pump
should be placed rather higher than the absorption vessel H, and the latter
should be raised just so much above the boiler as will ensure the return of the
liquid into the latter. A glass indicator tube i allows the level of the liquid in
the interior of the pump to be seen at any time from the outside. The piston
may have a light packing of vulcanized india-rubber or other material (not
fitting too tightly) or the piston itself may be made to fill exactly the cylinder
of the pump without friction, its rod 6" working in a tube or sheath ou fixed
to the lid of the pump serving as a guide. The piston may also be closed at
its upper part, and may be supported internally by several stays, if requisite
Figure 2 represents a diaphragm pump furnished with the same organs
ot admission and emission as the preceding, and susceptible of the same
functions. Between the two conical shells A, B, is fixed an india rubber or
other elastic membrane m, which fulfils the same office as the piston in the
pump just described; the tubes and D coinmunicating with the vessel H,

page_text: and those F, G, with the boiler are furnished with the same valves and cocks
as in the preceding Figure...
It is preferable to make the elastic membrane m of india-rubber because it
is impermeable and unassailable by the ammonia. This pump might be
actuated from the outside, in which case it should be provided with a pump
cylinder without valves, adapted to the upper tubes, and in which the action of
a piston would communicate the movement to the diaphragm by the medium
of a liquid, such as water. The details of this modification will be found
represented at Figure 3 in Sheet 2 of the Drawings.
This Figure exhibits a system of pump actuated from the exterior, and in
which the pressure of the impoverished liquid drawn from the bottom of the
boiler aids in forcing the nearly saturated liquid from the absorption vessel
back into the boiler. A is a conical vessel having an interior arrangement
similar to that shown at Figure 2*, Sheet 1, and serving to force the saturated
liquid into the boiler; A¹ is a similar vessel actuated by the impulse of the
impoverished liquid; B is a valve box, and C a slide valve moved by the rod
D, and establishing alternately a connection from the vessel A¹ to the boiler
by the tubes E, F, and to the absorption vessel by the tubes F and G. The
valve rod D moves the valve over the part H of the box where there is only a
slight pressure on it owing to the permanent communication of the valve box
with the absorption vessel, which also prevents the overstraining of the india-
rubber tube or sheath i which surrounds the rod for the purpose of preventing
leakage, a recess j, shown in dotted lines, allowing the necessary play to the
rod. K, K¹, are ordinary pump cylinders placed over the conical vessels, the
india-rubber diaphragms of which latter are actuated by means of a liquid
interposed between the said diaphragms and the pistons of the former, the rods
of which 1,, are attached to the beam M. The valves n, n', placed on each
of the pistons serve the former to compensate during the exhaust for the loss
of the interposed liquid which may take place past the pistons during the down
stroke, and the second as a safety valve. The moveable pedestals O, O¹, allow
of the regulation of the movement of the pistons according to the degree of
saturation desired to be given to the water in the absorption vessel. The action
of this apparatus is rendered more certain by means of double valves r,
adapted to each movement, that is, the upward and downward stroke. At the
entrance of each of the tubes of the conical vessels A and A', are placed
gratings s with very small openings to prevent injury to the india-rubber
diaphragm, and for the same purpose the apparatus should only act on cold
liquids, that from the boiler being taken after its passage through the rege-
nerator, and that from the absorption vessel before being reheated.
2.1

page_text: Figure 4 (Sheet 1) is a refrigerator, in which the circulation of the liquened.
ammonia commences at the small tube a at the upper part of the worm b,
whence it runs (becoming gaseous on its way) towards a reservoir c, where the
separation takes place between the gas and the part still liquid, which con-
tinues to gasefy during the operation. The vessels & containing the matters to
be cooled or frozen are supported on a light frame e' capable of turning on a
spindle or pivots, so that by giving a constant or alternative rotatory motion
thereto the points of contact with the uncongealable liquid which transmits the
cold may be constantly renewed; g is the drawing off tube. Several con-
centric worms enclosing several sets of vessels may be placed round the
receiver c.
Figure 5 (Sheet 1) represents a worm composed of several tubes B, B¹, B",
placed one above the other, and intended to form a large surface refrigerator
for various purposes. Several of these worms may be connected horizontally
to a common collector A, from which proceeds a tube a leading to the absorp-
tion vessel; the liquefied gas first enters the collector A, whence it spreads
itself through each of the worms; it can be distributed either by the small"
collector d, or by a special distributor, Figure 8 (Sheet 1); the aqueous
ammonia will naturally collect at the bottom of the tubes B11, from whence it
is drawn by the collector c. When this refrigerator is applied to the formation
of ice, it should be placed at the bottom of a rectangular vat, and above the
tubes are placed vessels of any form containing the water to be frozen, the
cold being transmitted to these vessels by means of any uncongealable liquid
circulating upwards, and for this purpose a flat tube occupying the whole
surface of the vat, and pierced with small holes, is placed beneath the worms,
and a pump taking the liquid from the top of the vat by means of several
perforated tubes extending throughout its length forces it constantlyinto the
flat tube above-named; or the vessels may be arranged in vertical spaces left
between each worm,and carried by a moveable frame, which should be moved
to and fro to accelerate the operation. The cooling of liquids or air is easily
effected by causing the same to circulate in contact with worms placed in a
vat or vessel of a proportionate capacity.
Figure 6 represents a mode of washing which can be arranged in the interior
of the boiler itself. B are double troughs, of which the lower part is plunged
into the liquid which occupies the bottom of the boiler, and of which the upper
part receives the return of the saturated liquor,iuto which the gas disengaged
in the lower part bubbles through the syphons c; the small troughs d embrace
the lower contiguous edges of the troughs B,to hinder the passage of the gas
through their interstices; the tubes e establish a cominunication between each

page_text: trough. These washing troughs may be multiplied by placing others above,
as shown by the dotted lines at f. 9, g, h, and I, J, K, (Figure 6*,) show
different arrangements of tubes for heating the boiler by steam.
When it is desired to obtain a gas entirelypure there must be placed above
the boiler A a similar but small receiver into which the saturated liquid first
passes, whilst the gas disengaged in the first boiler is admitted thereto by a
longitudinal tube provided with lateral holes, and represented at Figure 6,by
the dotted lines l. The division of the washing apparatus into several troughs
placed in juxtaposition, and of the heating tubes into several small groups,
allows of their introduction into the boiler through the manhole. Theannular
vessel, Figure 7, may be employed as a regenerator; it contains several
concentric worms soldered at their opposite extremities to the collecting tubes
a, a', which serve by means of the tubes 6 and 6' for the circulation of one of
the liquids; the tubes c, c', receive the other liquid, which circulates in the
vessel.
It will be observed that the interchange of temperatures between the two
liquids proceeding in opposite directions will proceed much better if the
cooling takes place downwards and the heating upwards. The annular vessel
may be formed of two distinct receivers placed one inside the other, the larger
one having a cover bolted thereto.
'
Figure 8 (Sheet 1) is an apparatus which may be employed to distribute
the volatilizing liquid either amongst the different worms of the same refri-
gerator, or amongst several refrigerators working in connection with one
boiler. In the bottom of a vessel a are fixed as many vertical tubes b as there
are worms or places to be supplied. Each of these tubes is pierced with about
three holes at equal distances from the bottom of the vessel,and the lower end
of each dips into a funnel c, which by means of the tubes o¹, lead to each of
the worms to be supplied with liquid. The latter passing into the centre of
the vessel a by the tube d, distributes itself necessarily in equal quantities
through each of the tubes, provided that the holes are of equal size. It may
be remarked that the distribution will be more absolutely equal by means of
small holes placed one above the other on the distributing tubes than by one
large opening. If, instead of an equal distribution, an unequal one be
desired; nothing is easier than to effect the same by proportioning the
diameter of the holes to the quantity of liquid it is desirable for each tube to
furnish.
Figure (Sheet 1) represents special mode of fastening in the tubes of
tubular apparatus, such as liquefiers, regenerators, or refrigerators. The
tubes a are screwed at each end, one end being spread or bulged, in order to

page_text: allow of the passage of the tubes through the hole of the first plate (which are
rather larger than those in the second), and the tubes are then screwed into
both plates b, c, in groups or otherwise, as required; the joint may be tinned
and soldered if necessary, in order to complete the impermeability. It is
essential to employ in this system such cocks only as will not allow of
the possibility of escape or leakage, which would rapidly impoverish the
solution.
Figures 10, 11, and 12, (Sheet 1,) represent views of some of the forms
that may be employed for this purpose; Figure 10 is a cock of a valvular form.
Instead of passing through a stuffing box, the valve rod a is attached to a
flexible metallic membrane b, rivetted and soldered by its edge to the body of
the cock. A hollow disc e holds the flexible membrane externally against the
internal pressure.. A screw working through the centre of the arch d allows
the disc to approach or recede, and the membrane following its movement
accordingly communicates the same to the valve, which opens or intercepts the
communiction. A folding tube would answer the same purpose as the flexible
metallic membrane, and might be employed in the place thereof.
In Figure 11 the valve rod a passes through a membrane of india-rubber
bolted by its edge to the rim of the box b, and by its centre to the disc c fixed
on the rod, the movement of which it follows.
Figure 12 is an ordinary conical plug cock, modified as follows:-A is the
conical box; B, the plug; C, the short tubes; D is a plug, which forms the
bottom of the box, being screwed against the disc e, which forms a joint; `g is
a spring, which presses the cone against the box; h is the rod or handle,
enclosed in a tube of india-rubberi, which may be strengthened inside and out
by coils or rings of metal. The small tube k cominunicates by a pipe with the
absorption vessel or any other vessel containing water, so as to conduct away
any small quantity of liquid or gas
which may filter past the conical plug.
When this cock is placed in a position exposed to heat, it is advisable to place
the rod below, and to prolong the metallic tube i¹ sufficiently to prevent the
overheating of the india-rubber. The cock may also have its upper opening
surrounded by a vessel containing water, which collects the waste ammo-
niacal gas..
Figure 13, (Sheet 1,) is an apparatus for the purpose of moving (in the
interior of vessels) various organs or instruments, such as slide valves, cocks,
valves, and other objects. The rod a is furnished with a double cone, which
acts upon suitable seats formed in its case or sheath. To the part 6 of the rod
the objects to be moved are connected either directly or otherwise. The other
extremity of the rod c is enveloped in india-rubber, as in the preceding Figure,

page_text: and the small tube d collects the leakage, which is conducted away by a small
pipe, as in Figure 12, either to the absorption vessel or into the water of a
receiver not under pressure. One of the pieces which serve to fix the glass
indicating tubes on the receivers A is shewn at Figure 14, (Sheet 1.) These
pieces are furnished with valves b, which leave the passage free when in their
normal condition, but which on the rupture of the tubes are driven by
the current so as to close the openings. A stop c prevents them from opening
beyond a certain distance. These indicators may also be furnished with cocks
similar to those herein described, and more particularly that shewn at Figure 12.
The extraction of the ammonia from the refrigerators when it has become too
aqueous by prolonged working, should be effected whilst exchanging its low
temperature with that of the liquefied ammonia, which arrives from the con-
denser 1), (Figure 1,) and for that purpose the tubes n and e may be entwined
or engaged one within the other for a sufficient length for effecting this
change. The drawing off tube n may open directly into the absorption vessel
H, and a cock can be placed on the tube G conducting the gas from the
refrigerator to the vessel H, in order by closing it to produce more or less
differential tension or pressure between the two receivers sufficient to effect
the evacuation through the tube n. Besides the formation of ice, the cold
thus produced may be applied, as already stated, to the cooling of air, liquids,
and other fluids, or even solids; to preserve food or aliments, which are
deteriorated by a high temperature; to facilitate the crystallization and preci-
pitation of various saltsand chemical products; or the separation of water from
certain salts, which it rejects on congelation; the fabrication of pure ice from
sea or mineral water, and so on; also to the direct condensation of various
very volatile chemical products, such as hydrochloric or methylic either, sul-
phurous acid, and other products; also to facilitating chemical reactions and
combinations, which can only be effected at a very low temperature, such as
the conversion of sulphate of magnesia and chloride of sodium into chloride of
magnesium and sulphate of soda, the conversion into hydrates of various salts,
the dissolution of certain gases, and so on; also to the concentration by con-
gelation of various dilute solutions, for example, wines, spirits, acids, and so
forth; also to the hardening or rendering firm (for facilitating industrial
operations) of certain bodies which heat softens or renders pasty, such as
stearines, paraffines, tallow, and other fatty matters, before. the compression
which is used for the extraction of the oils; also to moderate the heat produced
by fermentation, especially of wine, beer, and vinegar. The intensity of the cold
produced, which may easily descend from minus forty degrees to minus sixty
degrees, will be a powerful aid to most of these operations.

page_text: b
Crystallizations, precipitations, and other chemical operations are easily
effected in a refrigerator, similar to that shewn at F in Figure 1, having
instead of several cells merely one large central space. When it is desired to
render theseoperations continuous, the refrigerator, Figure 5, maybe employed,
placed in a rectangular cistern, Figure 15, in which at one end arrive the
liquids to be operated on, and which run out at the other end after undergoing
the necessary refrigeration. An agitator a constantly stirring the mass pre-
vents the adhesion of crystals to the tubes, and the crystalsfalling to the bottom
are pushed by the scrapers 6 towards a large funnel or shoot adapted to the
cistern at one end, whence a chain of buckets removes them. The funnel
forms the bottom of a prolongation of the cistern, which serves as a space
undisturbed by the agitators where the liquids decant or elutriate previously
to their running off. As these liquids run away very cold it is advantageous
to exchange their temperature with that of the liquids to be refrigerated
before their introduction into the cistern, and this object may be effected
by any tubular apparatus, for instance, one resembling the refrigerator K
(Figure 1), so arranged as to prevent the adhesion of crystals to the tubes,
which result may be obtained by leaving the top of the refrigerator open and
placing in the tubes scrapers a (Figure 16), which are moved to and fro. In
causing the liquids to be refrigerated to pass through these tubes the crystals
which they deposit will fall to the bottom of the apparatus, whence they can
be readily removed.
Liquids which require simply cooling need only to be circulated more or
less rapidly in refrigerators similar to those shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 9. Air
can also be cooled thereby, being put in circulation by a fan or other means;
but as the volume of this fluid is very great, and its specific caloric very small,
it is more practicable to cool it by causing it to circulate between the inter-
stices of large surfaces of woven cloth stretched in a box, over which surfaces
is constantly running water cooled byits continuous passage through a tubular
refrigerator.
Direct condensations or liquefactions should be effected by contact with a
refrigerator contained in a closed vessel. The preparation of pure sweet ice
from water containing salts or other bodies in solution presents two features.
If it be effected rapidly it is accompanied by the interposition of particles of
the saline or other water between the crystals of pure water. The ice thus
made should be broken to pieces and submitted to the operation of a centri-
fugal turbine for the expulsion of the foreign liquid; or the ice may be pro-
duced slowlyand absolutely pure; for this purpose it is preferable to refrigerate

page_text: an uncongealable liquid to the requisite degree by causing it to circulate
through a refrigerator, and thence round the vessel containing the solution;
this method may be employed for all kinds of refrigeration and congelation.
Refrigerators such as that shown at Figure 5, or in the form of simple
helicoidal worms, may be placed in fermenting vats or vessels, the contents of
which they will cool by receiving a current of water (either pure or rendered
uncongealable),cooled constantlybycirculation from the wormtoȧréfrigerator.
Figure 17 (Sheet 2) is an intermitted hydrostatic circulation apparatus,
arranged so that the gas purifies itself before its liquefaction. On the top of a
small boiler A is placed an upright tube B of about two-fifths the diameter of
the former. The syphon C, c', rises in the interior of the tube B to nearly the
summit, and descends again to a short distance below the bottom of the same.
This syphon forces the gas disengaged in the boiler A to bubble through the
ammoniacal water before passing to the refrigerator. Another syphon D,,
establishes a communication with the water space of the boiler A. The two
branches of each of these syphons are of very unequal diameter, in order to pre-
vent the possibility in any case of their acting in a direction contrary to their
'original intention. Their arrangement is such that onfilling the receiver Abyde-
canting from therefrigerator E, or on turning there in the liquid remaining in the
latter after one or several operations, there always remains a small quantity
of liquid in the tube into which the lower end of the tube c¹ dips, and the gas
passing from the boiler A will bubble through this bath; which increases
slightly at each operation. If it become too abundant that portion which
passes beyond the syphon-shaped tube D will be driven back into the vessel A
as soon as the return of the gas commences. The two syphons C, c', and D,
having always one of their extremities plunged into a liquid become mutually
and alternately hydrostatically closed, which forces the gas to pass through
C, cl, and the purifying bath during the disengagement, and through D, d,
during the absorption, the purifying bath still remaining. E is an annular
receiver wherein the gas passes by the tube F, in order to be liquefied by con-
tact with cold water; G is a casing surrounding the receiver E for the circu-
lation of cold water; H is a small vessel serving for the expulsion of the air
(described at Figure 20); i is a small tube closed at it's base and plunged into
the boiler A to receive a thermometer; J is a reservoir surrounding the
washing tube B, and which may be filled with cold water to assist the purifi-
cation of the gas.
To put this apparatus in operation the boiler A must be filled from three-
quarters to four-fifths full of an aqueous solution of ammonia, and submitted to

page_text: the direct action of a fire or heated by a bath of brine, oil, glycerine, or other
On the other hand cold water
suitable agent to about 130 to 140 degrees.
must be caused to circulate in the moveable casing G, or at least, the vessel E
must be kept in a plentiful bath, which it is advisable to stir up from time to
time. As soon as by the indication of the thermometer it is considered that
the liquefaction is sufficient, the vessel A must be removed from the fire (or
the fire from the vessel) and placed in contact with cold water; the water to
be frozen must be placed either directly in the interual space / of the annular
receiver E, cr, which is preferable, in a moveable cell or vessel which is placed
in the former, which, being surrounded with an uncongealable liquid establishes
an intimate contact, and the congelation will take place. If water has been
caused to circulate in the casing G it should be emptied in order to confine all
the action to the interior of the apparatus. In case the water to be frozen
has been placed directly in the vessel k, the boiler A should be reheated a
little to allow of the immediate removal of the ice.
Figure 17 is a refrigerator which may be substituted for the one E, and
forms the ice on its outer circumference either by direct contact, or by a
moveable sheath or case, or by the interposition of an uncongealable liquid.
When a series of operations has conveyed too much water into the refrigerators,
it should be restored to the boiler A by reversing the latter and holding the
refrigerator some moments horizontally above the same. A moveable casing
similar to G may be placed round the boiler A after its separation from the
furnace to serve for the circulation of cold water; it can also serve for the
hot bath.
Figure 17** is a washing vessel which may be substituted for B, and of
which the action is determined or regulated by the cylindrical or spherical
valves, y. A hermetically closed cock, similar to those at Figures 10 and 11,
may be placed on the tube F to moderate at will the absorbing action. In
place of being side by side as at Figure 17, the two receivers may be placed
one above the other, the boiler being below at a sufficient distance from the
refrigerator, and a screen interposed to prevent radiation. The washing
apparatus should be placed at the side of the receivers, and a tube furnished
with a hermetical cock extending from the bottom of the refrigerator to the
top of the boiler will serve to restore to the latter the water left in the former
at the end of the operation.
Figure 18 (Sheet 2), represents the interior of a boiler intended for the
same use as the one shown at Figure 10. The ammoniacal solution is placed
in the cones a, arranged one above the other, and furnished with short central.
tubes 6; above each cone is placed a cap c, which, forces. the gas to wash

page_text: itself(during itsdisengagement, which takes place progressively from bottom to
top) in liquids more and more rich, in which liquids the greater part of the
steam carried over by the gas is liquefied or dissolved; small holesd limit the
height of the liquid in each reservoir. On dispensing with the caps or covers c
this vessel becomes suitable to receive solid bodies fitted to disengage and
absorb ammoniacal gas, such as chloride of silver or of calcium saturated
under the influence of cold with the said gas. The working of this apparatus
will be more regular if it is heated by a hot bath in preference to a direct
application of fire.
Figures 19 and 19* represent the boiler of a domestic apparatus with an
internal washing arrangement. A is the body of the boiler; B is an interior
bell or vessel fixed to the sides of the former; C is a recess which confines the
disengagement to that part opposite the circulating tube d; e is a channel
made in the recess C, and which takes away the gas during the absorption by
the opening e¹ under the buckets of the wheelf, which latter,inturning, keeps
the liquid in agitation during the absorption. The cell G serves to receive a
thermometer. A small hole k made at the top of the bell or vessel B,
allows of the escape of the air. A quantity of solution is to be placed in
this boiler, which may reach up to nearly the top of the vessel B, and when
the disengagement of the gas takes place, all which passes beyond the upper
level of the channel e lodges below the vessel B, and the disengaged gas is
washed therein.
An intermittent apparatus of large dimensions may be constructed by
employing a freezing vessel with several cells like that shown at Figure 1, the
liquefying surface of which may be augmented by coiling several turns of the
gas eduction pipe at the top thereof. The returning of the water carried over
not being possible to be accomplished by turning over the vessel on account of
the cold, it is effected by a tube furnished with a hermetical cock, and leading
from the bottom of the freezing vessel to the top of the boiler; the lowest level
of the former should be rather higher than the top of the latter in order to
allow of an easy return of the said water.
Figure 20 is a vessel serving for the expulsion of air from the apparatus.
a is a tube of communication extending to nearly the bottom of the liquefying
vessel E (Figure 17); b is a plug pressed by the screw c on the edge of the
tube, and furnished at its lower extremity with a ring of soft metal or india-
rubber, which closes the opening hermetically. After the boiler has been
filled and the said opening closed, the boiler must be heated slightly to promote
the disengagement of the gas, which drives the air before it. Some water
placed in the vessel H serves to indicate its total expulsion by the fact that the

page_text: gaseous current dissolves therein entirely. The vessel must then be hermeti
cally closed by tightening the screw. This same vessel may also be placed on
the boilers to serve for the introduction of the liquid and to ascertain its level
in the interior.
The ice formed in the moveable vessels may be extracted therefrom by
plunging them a few moments in water, at the ordinary temperature, and
then turning them over. It is advisable to protect the refrigerators against
external heat by enveloping them in a casing, which is a non-conductor of heat.
In the construction of these vessels such metals only must be used as are not
affected by ammonia, such as iron, tin, lead, ordinary and malleable cast iron;
copper alloyed with zinc should not be used, because its molecular constitution
is rapidly altered and its tenacity destroyed by contact with ammonia; brass
becomes disentegrated thereby in a few hours; pure copper answers better, but
it is not advisable to employ it except it be tinned or silvered on the inside,
it should be soldered with an alloy of silver and copper, which resists well; the
rivettings and joints should be tinned and soldered with tin, in order to prevent
any leakage or the admission of air,and the convexity of the upper ends of the
boilers should be turned inwards in order that the rivetting may be performed
outside. The joints should be inade, preferably, with a mastic or cement of
white of egg and quicklime, or with rings of india-rubber or tin. Boilers, of
large dimensions should be provided with manometers; when they are heated
by a direct application of fire it is indispensable to furnish them with safety
valves, which, in order to prevent leakage should be furnished with rings of
india-rubber or tin interposed between their points of contact. The india-
rubber rings should be let into recesses to prevent their displacement. The
valves may also be placed in a closed chamber from which extends a tube
plunged into water. For apparatus of a small size a safety valve or organ
may be employed similar to that shown at Figure 21 formed of a metallic
plate a fixed on a vessel 6, which having a weaker resistance than the receivers
will give way before any explosion can take place, and will give issue to the
gas by the channel c.
The maximum of useful effect is obtained in the intermittent apparatus
with a solution of a specific gravity of 0.87 to 0-88, and the same may be
employed with success in the continuous apparatus. The thermometric point of
heating the solution should vary with the temperature of the water circulating
round the liquefying vessel. If the liquefaction takes place at a temperature
of from 12 to 15 degrees centigrade the ammonical solution should be reduced
to about 130 degrees, but, if the liquefaction is carried on at about 30 degrees
the heat should be increased to 145 or 150 degrees.

page_text: The form of the boilers, refrigerators, regenerators, and condensers may be
indefinitely varied; a cluster of tubes may be employed for a worm, and vice
versa; vertical, horizontal, tubular, or other boilers may be used. The boilers
of the intermittent apparatus may be heated by steam by means of an interior
coiled pipe, or an exterior jacket heated by the direct application of fire,
being refrigerated by the passage of cold water succeeding the steam by means
of suitable cocks or valves. The heating by steam can be limited by means of
a safety valve, which will blow off at a given temperature. A saturated
solution of sulphurous acid in alcohol may be employed for the same purpose
as ammonia, but the small quantity of latent heat in this gas, and the facility
with which it absorbs oxygen to transform itself into sulphuric acid, present
objections to its being employed as advantageously as ammoniacal gas.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
"An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Refrigerating and Freezing,"
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim
as the Invention communicated to me by the aforesaid Ferdinand Philippe
Edouard Carré, the improved method of and apparatus for refrigerating
and freezing hereiu-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings, or
any mere modification or imitation thereofoperating substantially in the same
manner. . .
In witness whereof, 1, the said George Davies, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.