Improvements in and in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Artificial Ice.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1907
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Artificial Ice.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Aime Marie Leon Osmond, Marquis d'Osmond, of 10, Rue Louis le Grand,
Paris, France, Gentleman) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of artificial ice and presents great
advantages over ordinary methods of manufacture in respect of simplicity of
construction, economy of labour, and greater output, and the apparatus now
in use so that ice can be produced cheaply which has not the milky appearance
of ordinary artificial ice but is absolutely clear, possesses the aspect and trans-
parency of crystal, and is undistinguishable from natural ice.
In
In carrying out this process metallic congelating surfaces are exposed on the
one side to contact with the water to be frozen and on the other side to the influence
or action of a freezing or a heating agent, the freezing agent acting only so long as
is necessary for the formation of ice of the desired thickness and being then replaced
by a heating agent to enable the slabs of ice thus formed to be detached.
combination with these metallic surfaces intermediate divisions made of a material
which is a poor conductor of heat are used to prevent the slabs of ice formed from
adhering together. Means are also provided for conveying either the heating
or the freezing agent to the congelating surfaces.
The invention also further comprises a method of manufacturing block ice by
freezing water in shells or hollow vessels of ice produced as above described, these
ice shells serving both to contain the water to be frozen and to assist the action
of the freezing agent, the shell and its contents forming a solid block of ice.
The accompanying drawings illustrate several arrangements for carrying out this
invention, the apparatus being for the most part shewn in longitudinal vertical
section and the blocks of ice being indicated by hatching in dotted lines.
Figures 1 to 6 relate to the manufacture of wall ice in contact with metallic
congelating surfaces exposed first to a freezing medium and then to a heating
medium to detach the ice formed. Figures 7 to 12 relate to the manufacture of
block ice in ice shells.
Figure 1 represents a comparatively simple construction of the apparatus for
carrying out the first mentioned process.
The container A, preferably of wood or other poor conductor, contains the water
to be frozen and is provided with a false bottom B the upper surface of which is
divided into cells by ribs or bars of wood or other poor conductor of heat. To the
space A° beneath the false bottom B inlet and outlet passages a¹, a², are connected
for the introduction and discharge of the freezing or heating agent. The freezing
agent may be caused to circulate through the space beneath the false bottom B
continuously in contact therewith for a certain time or it may be retained in said

page_text: space until its refrigerating capability has been completely utilized. When the
congelating surfaces have become covered with a layer of ice of the desired thick-
ness, the supply of the congelating agent is cut off or it is expelled from space A°
and a heating agent is admitted for the purpose of detaching the slabs of ice which
then rise and float on the water whence they may be fished out.
The operation is similar for all the apparatus represented in Figures 1 to 6.
It will be seen that congelation is effected only on the metallic surfaces, the
frames a merely determining the form of the lateral sides of the slabs of ice e and
preventing the union of two adjacent slabs. The frames a being of such profile as
will enable the slabs of ice to be readily detached.
In Figure 2 the metallic surfaces B are vertically disposed as hollow walls in
three pairs within the container A each enclosing a space A° closed at the upper
end by a cover of non-conducting material, and each supplied with the freezing
or heating agent. The water to be frozen is in contact with the surfaces B which
are divided as before into small cells by ribs a of non-conducting material. The
freezing or the heating agent, as the case may be, is caused to circulate continuously
through the spaces A each of which has an inlet pipe r, and an outlet pipe r³,
in connection with circulating pipes.
In Figures 3 and 4 the metallic freezing surfaces are made in the form of cells
or moulds wherein either solid blocks or cup-like shells of ice may be formed
according to the duration of the action of the freezing agent, the cells being of
any desired shape.
Figures 3 and 4 shew simple forms, the cells having smooth surfaces and being
separated one from the other by ribs a° made of some poor conductor of heat which
in the present case serve as the cross bars by which the moulds are supported.
This form of the congelating surfaces presents an extended surface to the circula-
tion of the freezing or heating agents around the exterior of the congelating
surfaces.
The duration of the action of the refrigerating agent determines the thickness
of the layer or the greater or less solidity of the block of ice formed, as indicated' in
the drawings. By this means a hollow shell or cup of ice having walls of greater
or less thickness or a completely solid block may be obtained at will.
In Figure 5 the profile of the moulds is such as to produce hollow shells or
cups of ice having walls of limited thickness and in order to produce a more
extended circulation of the refrigerating agent against the surfaces of the moulds
the space A is partially divided by baffles c past which the fluid circulates as
shewn by the arrows.
In Figure 6 the cup-shaped moulds are disposed inversely to those shewn in
Figures 3 and 4, that is to say they stand up above the false bottom and have
their sides slightly coned so as to facilitate the detachment of the ice cups or shells.
Beneath the moulds B the space A° is partially filled by a displacer Ĉ of corres-
ponding form to the moulds to direct the flow of the refrigerating agent as close
as possible to the congelating surfaces in order to utilize to the fullest extent the
congelating or heating power of the agent employed.
Figure 7 represents apparatus for making shells of ice and when filled with
water freezing them into solid blocks. It will however be evident that the ice
shells to be used for making block ice may be otherwise produced without depart.
ing from the invention.
The spaces beneath the congelating surfaces which serve for the admission and
circulation of the refrigerating or heating agent instead of communicating with
a common chamber are separate, each mould B resting directly upon and making
a water-tight joint with the bottom of the container, the hollow moulds forming
freezing chambers and corresponding in form to that of the ice shells and being
covered by the water to be frozen contained in tank A, the chambers contained
within the moulds being supplied with the freezing or heating agent through 5
pipes, the pipes for the introduction and discharge of the freezing agent
and the pipes for the introduction and discharge of the heating agent being

page_text: connected with the chambers within the moulds through the corresponding inlets
and outlets oo' in the bottom of container A. Within the hollow moulds B are
separating diaphragms e¹ or displacers C₁ for causing a prolonged circulation of the
congelating or heating agent against the walls of the chambers. The ice shells
are made as hereinbefore described, the congelating agent being first allowed to act
for a sufficient time to form upon the congelating surfaces layers of ice of a certain
thickness, forming hollow shells of ice of corresponding shape to the moulds. The
shells are then detached from the congelating surfaces by the action of the heating
agent, rise and float upon the water, and are then collected at the desired point
by a current induced at the surface of the water (which also prevents the water
freezing) by means of an Archimedean screw or other device R mounted at one
end of the container and driven by hand or power. The shells are then removed
by tongs H or other means.
Figures 8 to 11 shew cross sections of different forms of ice shells which may
be thus produced for making block ice.
Figure 12 is a horizontal section of an ice shell having corrugated sides.
The process is independent of the form of the shell but it is preferred to make
equal-sided shells similar to those illustrated in the drawings.
Of these forms that shown in Figure 7 is the simplest, easiest, and cheapest to
produce. The shells have slightly pyramidal sides and the bottom should prefer-
ably be made concave or provided with recesses or corrugated, etc. so that when
stacked one on the other free space will be left between them for the circulation
of the congelating agent, as shewn at the right hand end of Figure 7.
In Figure 8 the recess eo' in the base of shell E is of triangular form.
In Figure 9 the base is concaved of semi-cylindrical form or nearly so.
In Figure 10 several grooves or corrugations extend lengthwise of the base.
The shell represented in Figure 11 has a base relatively flatter and broader than
the preceding and is more flattened in form.
In Figure 12 the sides are corrugated to form circulation channels for the
congelating agent.
For the purpose of making block ice the shells are stacked as shewn at the right
hand end of Figure 7, after having been filled with water and closed by a covering
layer of ice of sufficient strength to support the superincumbent shells, a tier of shells.
being first placed in position and then exposed to the congelating agent until the
covering layers of ice are formed, after which another tier is applied upon the first
and the operation repeated and so on, the congelation of the contents of the shells
or the thickness of the walls being thus gradually augmented as indicated in
Figure 7, the lower tier of shells which are subjected for a longer time to the action
of the congelating agent, being thicker than the upper ones.
To avoid the bursting of the shells, in each shell is placed a compressible and
floatable object capable of displacing sufficient water and preventing the cover or
top crust from freezing at the centre and permitting (when the cover is frozen all
round) of the expansion during congelation of the water contained in the shell.
In the example shewn, pig's bladders are used which are loaded with some rela-
tively heavy body so as to immerse them in the water to a certain depth. Any
other body possessing the properties above mentioned may however be used in place
of the bladders s.
The freezing chamber M in which the ice shells are stacked for the purpose of
freezing their contents, is provided with apertures o in its bottom for the outlet of
the freezing agent, preferably air cooled to the minimum temperature necessary.
The stacking of the ice shells in the chamber should be so arranged that the
cavities eel of the upper tiers should communicate with the channels between those
of the bottom tier and so that the apertures o be not blocked by the shells of the
bottom tier. The orifices o open into a common discharge channel O for carrying
away the refrigerating agent. The apparatus for making the ice shells is prefer-
ably disposed beside the freezing chamber M, as shown in Figure 7.
It remains to mention that in general and for all the forms of apparatus

page_text: described, air cooled to the minimum temperature necessary is used as the refrig-
erating agent whilst the heating agent for detaching the ice blocks from the
moulds may be air at the normal temperature in summer, or previously heated in
winter.
DL: 00
L
1007
Improvements in and in Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Artificial Ioe.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Aime Marie Leon Osmond, Marquis d'Osmond, of 10, Rue Louis le Grand,
Paris, France, Gentleman) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
―
This invention relates to the manufacture of artificial ice and presents great
advantages over ordinary methods of manufacture in respect of simplicity of
construction, economy of labour, and greater output, and over the apparatus now
in use, so that ice can be produced cheaply which has not the milky appearance
of ordinary artificial ice but is absolutely clear, possesses the aspect and trans-
parency of crystal, and is undistinguishable from natural ice.
In carrying out this process metallic congelating surfaces are exposed on the
one side to contact with the water to be frozen and on the other side to the influence
or action of a freezing or a heating agent, the freezing agent acting only so long as
is necessary
for the formation of ice of the desired thickness and being then replaced
by a heating agent to enable the slabs of ice thus formed to be detached." In
combination with theso metallic surfaces intermediate divisions made of a material
which is a poor conductor of heat are used to prevent the slabs of ice formed from
adhering together. Means are also provided for conveying either the heating
or the freezing agent to the congelating surfaces.
The invention also further comprises a method of manufacturing block ice by
freezing water in shells or hollow vessels of ice produced as above described, these
ice shells serving both to contain the water to be frozen and to assist the action
of the freezing agent, the shell and its contents forming a solid block of ice.
The drawings which accompany the Provisional Specification illustrate several
arrangements for carrying out this invention, the apparatus being for the most.
part shewn in longitudinal vertical section and the blocks of ice being indicated
by hatching in dotted lines. Figures 1 to 6 relate to the manufacture of wall ice
in contact with metallic congelating surfaces exposed first to a freezing medium
and then to a heating medium to detach the ice formed. Figures 7 to 12 relate
to the manufacture of block ice in ice shells.
Figure 1 represents a comparatively simple construction of the apparatus for
carrying out the first mentioned process.
The container A, preferably of wood or other poor conductor, contains the water
to be frozen and is provided with a false bottom B the upper surface of which is

page_text: divided into cells by ribs or bars of wood or other poor conductor of heat. To the
space A° beneath the false bottom B inlet and outlet passages a¹, as, are connected
for the introduction and discharge of the freezing or heating agent. The freezing
agent may be caused to circulate through the space beneath the false bottom B
continuously in contact therewith for a certain time or it may be retained in said
space until its refrigerating capability has been completely utilized. When the
congelating surfaces have become covered with a layer of ice of the desired thick-
ness, the supply of the congelating agent is out off or it is expelled from space A°
and a heating agent is admitted for the purpose of detaching the slabs of ice which
then rise and float on the water whence they may be fished out
The operation is similar for all the apparatus represented in Figures 1 to 6.
It will be seen that congelation is effected only on the metallic surfaces, the
frames a merely determining the form of the lateral sides of the slabs of ice e and
preventing the union of the two adjacent slabs, the frames a being of such profile as
will enable the slabs of ice to be readily detached.
In Figure 2 the metallic surfaces B are vertically disposed as hollow walls in
three pairs within the container A, each enclosing a space A° closed at the upper
end by a cover of non-conducting material, and each supplied with the freezing
or heating agent. The water to be frozen is in contact with the surfaces B which
are divided as before into small cells by ribs a of non-conducting material. The
freezing or the heating agent, as the case may be, is caused to circulate continuously
through the spaces A° each of which has an inlet pipe r', and an outlet pipe ³,
in connection with circulating pipes.
In Figures 3 and 4 the metallic freezing surfaces are made in the form of cells
or moulds wherein either solid blocks or cup-like shells of ice may be formed
according to the duration of the action of the freezing agent, the cells being of
any desired shape.
Figures 3 and 4 shew simple forms, the cells having smooth surfaces and being
separated one from the other by ribs a° made of some poor conductor of heat which
in the present case serve as the cross bars by which the moulds are supported.
This form of the congelating surfaces presents an extended surface to the circula-
tion of the freezing or heating agents around the exterior of the congelating
surfaces.
The duration of the action of the refrigerating agent determines the thickness
of the layer or the greater or less solidity of the block of ice formed, as indicated in
the drawings. By this means a hollow shell or cup of ice having walls of greater
or less thickness or a completely solid block may be obtained at will.
In Figure 5 the profile of the moulds is such as to produce hollow shells or
cups of ice having walls of limited thickness and in order to produce a more
extended circulation of the refrigerating agent upon the surfaces of the moulds,
the space A° is partially divided by baffles c past which the fluid circulates us
shewn by the arrows.
In Figure 6 the cup-shaped moulds are disposed inversely to those shewn in
Figures 3 and 4, that is to say they stand up above the false bottom and have
their sides slightly coned so as to facilitate the detachment of the ice cups or shells.
Beneath the moulds B the space A° is partially filled by a displacer C of corres-
ponding form to the moulds to direct the flow of the refrigerating agent as close
as possible to the congelating surfaces in order to utilize to the fullest extent the
congelating or heating power of the agent employed.
Figure represents apparatus for making shells of ice and when filled with
water freezing them into solid blocks. It will however be evident that the ice
shells to be used for making block ice may be otherwise produced without depart-
ing from the invention.
The spaces beneath the congelating surfaces which serve for the admission and
circulation of the refrigerating or heating agent instead of communicating with
a common chamber are separate, each mould B resting directly upon and making

page_text: a water-tight joint with the bottom of the container, the hollow moulds forming.
freezing chambers and corresponding in form to that of the ice shells and being
covered by the water to be frozen contained in tank A, the chambers contained
within the moulds being supplied with the freezing or heating agent through
pipes, the pipes for the introduction and discharge of the freezing agent
and the pipes for the introduction and discharge of the heating agent being
connected with the chambers within the moulds through the corresponding inlets
and outlets o o³ in the bottom of container A. Within the hollow moulds B are
separating diaphragms or displacers C for causing a prolonged circulation of the
congelating or heating agent against the walls of the chambers. The ice shells
are made as liereinbefore described, the congelating agent being first allowed to act
for a sufficient time to form upon the congelating surfaces layers of ice of a certain
thickness, forming hollow shells of ice of corresponding shape to the moulds. The
shells are then detached from the congelating surfaces by the action of the heating
agent, rise and float upon the water, and are then collected at the desired point
by a current induced at the surface of the water (which also prevents the water
freezing) by means of an Archimedean screw or other device R mounted at one
end of the container and driven by hand or power. The shells are then removed
by tongs H or other means.
Figures 8 to 11 shew cross sections of different forms of ice shells which may
be thus produced for making block ice.
Figure 12 is a horizontal section of an ice shell having corrugated sides.
The process is independent of the form of the shell but it is preferred to make.
equal-sided shells similar to those illustrated in the drawings.
Of these forms that shewn in Figure 7 is the simplest, easiest, and cheapest to
produce. The shells have slightly pyramidal sides and the bottom should prefer-
ally be made concave or provided with recesses or corrugated, etc. so that when
stacked one on the other free space will be left between them for the circulation
of the congelating agent, as shewn at the right hand end of Figure 7.
In Figure 8 the recess e° in the base of shell E is of triangular form.
In Figure 9 the base is concaved of semi-cylindrical form or nearly so.
In Figure 10 several grooves or corrugations extend lengthwise of the base.
The shell represented in Figure 11 has a base relatively flatter and broader than
the preceding and is more flattened in form.
In Figure 12 the sides are corrugated to form circulation channels for the
congelating agent.
For the purpose of making block ice the shells are stacked as shewn at the right
hand end of Figure 7, after having being filled with water and closed by a covering
layer of ice of sufficient strength to support the superincumbent shells, a tier of shells
being first placed in position and then exposed to the congelating agent until the
"covering layers of ice are formed, after which another tier is applied upon the first
and the operation repeated and so on, the congelation of the contents of the shells
or the thickness of the walls being thus gradually augmented as indicated in
Figure 7, the lower tier of shells which are subjected for a longer time to the action
of the congelating agent, being thicker than the upper ones.
.To avoid the bursting of the shells, in each shell is placed a compressible and
floatable object capable of displacing sufficient water and preventing the cover or
top crust from freezing at the centre and permitting (when the cover is frozen all.
round) of the expansion during congelation of the water contained in the shell.
In the example shewn, pig's bladders are used which are loaded with some rela-
tively heavy body so as to immerse them in the water to a certain depth. Any
other body possessing the properties above mentioned may however be used in place
of the bladders s.
The freezing chamber in which the ice shells E are stacked for the purpose of
freezing their contents, is provided with apertures o in its bottom for the outlet of..
the freezing agent, preferably air cooled to the minimum temperature necessary.
The stacking of the ice shells in the chamber should be so arranged that the

page_text: cavities ee¹ of the upper tiers should communicate with the channels between those
of the bottom tier and so that the apertures o 'be not blocked by the shells of the
bottom tier. The orifices o open into a common discharge channel O for carrying.
away the refrigerating agent. The apparatus for making the ice shells is prefer-
ably disposed beside the freezing chamber, as shown in Figure 7.
It remains to mention that in general and for all the forms of apparatus
described, air cooled to the minimum temperature necessary is used as the refrig-
erating agent, whilst the heating agent for detaching the ice blocks from the
moulds may be air at the normal temperature in summer, or previously heated in
winter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The herein described improvements in the manufacture of artificial ice,
consisting in the employment of metallic freezing surfaces disposed within a suit-
able container said surfaces being covered by the water to be frozen and subjected
alternately to the action of a freezing or refrigerating agent and a heating agent
so that by the action of said freezing agent ice of the desired thickness may be
formed in a continuous manner and be afterwards automatically detached by the
heating agent as specified.
2. The employment in carrying out the process for the manufacture of artificial
ice specified in Claim 1, of apparatus consisting of a container for the water to be
frozen in which are arranged metallic congelating surfaces covered by the water
on one side and exposed on the other side to the action of a freezing or heating
agent, the said container being provided with suitable means for admitting and
discharging said agents as described.
3. In carrying out the process specified in Claim 1, apparatus in which in
combination with metallic congelating surfaces a material which is a poor conductor
of heat is applied upon the side of said surfaces exposed to the water so as to
separate the several metallic surfaces or divide the total metallic surface into
separate cells or otherwise limit or enclose the parts of said surfaco as specified.
4. For carrying out the process specified in Claim 1, apparatus in which the
metallic congelating surfaces are made in the form of hollow moulds so as to enable
hollow ice blocks to be formed as well as solid blocks as specified.
5. For carrying out the process specified in Claim 1, an apparatus having
metallic surfaces made in the form of hollow moulds so constructed as to enable
hollow blocks of ice in the form of shells or cups to be produced as specified.
6. For carrying out the process as specified in Claim 1, apparatus wherein the
chamber in which the congelating or heating agent is caused to act on the con-
gelating surfaces, is divided by means of diaphragms, partitions, or displacers for
the purpose of prolonging the contact of said agents with said surfaces as specified.
7. In carrying out the process specified in Claim 1, the employment of apparatus
in which air cooled to the necessary minimum temperature is used as a congelating
agent and also as a heating agent at the normal temperaturo in summer or heated
in winter, the said cooled or heated air being conducted over the congelating
surfaces in a continuous current as specified.
8. The herein described process of making block ice which consists in forming
cup-shaped shells of ice as described and then filling said ice shells with the water
to be frozen and exposing the shells to the action of the freezing agent until their
contents are frozen into solid blocks as specified.
9. In carrying out the process specified in Claim 8, the employment of ice shells
having pyramidal sides and hollowed or grooved bases so as to form when said
shells are stacked channels or passages permeating the stack for the circulation
of the congelating agent along the external walls of the shells as specified.
10. In carrying out the process specified in Claim 8, the employment of apparatus
in which the congelating chamber serving to contain the hollow ice bodies is

page_text: provided with a perforated bottom by means of which the congelating agent which
traverses the pile of hollow bodies may be introduced and discharged continuously
at bottom as specified.
D
1
1005
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53; Chancery Lane, London.