IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRE- SERVATION OF ARTICLES OF FOOD AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johan Lauritz Sundt, of No. 4, Great Winchester Street,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRE-
SERVATION OF ARTICLES OF FOOD AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." (A com-
munication from abroad by Fritz Sofus Frölich, of Christiania, in the Kingdom
of Norway.)
Sealed the 2nd August 1878, and dated the 5th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johan Lauritz Sundt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1878.
JOHAN LAURITZ SUNDT, of No. 4, Great Winchester Street, in the City of
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF ARTICLES OF FOOD AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR.". (A communication from abroad by Fritz Sofus Frölich,
of Christiania, in the Kingdom of Norway.)
This Invention purposes to preserve especially organic articles of food in larger
quantities and during longer periods. This is obtained through exposing the
matters to be preserved to such a strong artificial frost in an apparatus constructed
for that purpose that they quickly and perfectly become thoroughly frozen like
firm ice, in which state they then may either be placed into a preserving apparatus
constructed as herein-after described, or they may be forwarded to other places in
packings suitable for the purpose.
Beside the benefit which this Invention offers to the private households, and
particularly in the country, it may find extensive application for preserving game,
meat, and fish bought during a cheap season for such time when the prices may
have risen, and is of special great importance to the fisheries, as being a cheap and
practical means of not only preserving the fish in fresh condition till it may be
71 .

page_text: sold, the method being applicable on board of any fishing smack, but also for such
instances where fish available as bait is not caught simultaneously with that avail-
able as human food for the purpose of preserving any quantity of such fish intended.
as bait till the time when it is required to be used.
The method is the following:-A box or tank of iron or other metal of any form,
by preference not above 12 inches wide, and somewhat less in the bottom than at
the top, and otherwise of a size made in accordance with each individual require-
ment, is placed on to a large box made of closely fitted planks, leaving all over
between the two cases a space of about 3 inches. Into the iron box is put a sack
or other piece of cloth, into which the goods to be frozen are wrapped in such a
manner that all of them together may easily be taken out of the box when they
have been frozen. The space between the boxes is filled with an effective freezing
mixture able to bring the temperature in the iron box quickly down to the degree
of cold which the time of year may necessitate, after which the whole is covered
with a tight-fitting lid. When the contents of the iron box in this manner is
thoroughly frozen into a solid lump it is removed out of the said box to make
room for a fresh supply.
The frozen goods, with or without their wrapping, are brought either to the
preserving apparatus or into the box or case in which they are to be forwarded.
Such box or case must be altered 3 inches over all larger than the frozen lump,
and the space firmly packed with sawdust, ashes, coal dust, or other cheap non-
conducting material. The goods will in this state be able to bear even during.
summer several days transport without being thawed.
The apparatus for storing the frozen goods for months or years is to be con-
structed as herein-after-described; and it may be fitted up anywhere, and be of any
required size whatever.
The apparatus is made as a house or room with double isolated walls with a
staircase from the cockloft, which; as well as the floor, which is raised somewhat
above the ground, must be well isolated.
The apparatus is to be divided by isolated partitions into separate rooms, each
to have its separate tight-fitting entrance or door. In the upper part of each room
there is to be a water-tight tank of iron or other material, having a pipe at the
bottom, through which the melted freezing mixture is brought down into one or
more large tubes placed on the floor, and hence led to the outlet tap. The tank is
filled with a freezing mixture through an aperture made in the upper floor leading
one into each tank. Upstairs in-the house on the cockloft is placed a mill for ice
breaking, and also the ingredients for the freezing mixture.
The goods to be stored are brought into the apparatus through an entrance
opening. The temperature is continually kept below the zero through gradually
replenishing the consumed freezing mixture, which need not be done more than
.once a month, or even every second month, according to the time of year, provided
the apparatus is well constructed.
In this apparatus victuals may be preserved without previous freezing, but in
that case only for a short time, whilst if they be treated as described above they
may be preserved as long as the temperature is kept below zero.
The apparatus may also be constructed in such a manner that the freezing
mixture is placed on the floor, but the above construction is preferable.