Improvements in Ice Floors for Skating Rinks and in the Manufacture of Ice.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1898-Accepted, 16th July, 1898
Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1898-Accepted, 16th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ice Floors for Skating Rinks and in the
Manufacture of Ice.
I, ANDREW GREIG ANDERSON, 29, Castle Street, Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid-Lothian, North Britain, Fishmonger and Ice Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved floor for artificially freezing a horizontal
stratum of water into ice such as is used for skating and curling rinks. The ice
produced may also be used for all other purposes for which ice is required.
I construct the floor on which the water is frozen as follows:-
On any suitable foundation, artificial or natural, such as concrete, brick, stone
etc. I place parallel rows of wood battens about 1 to 2 feet or any other suitable
distance apart.
On these battens I place a horizontal layer or floor of wood or other non-
conducting material with the joints airtight. I make this floor preferably of two
layers of floor boards with ploughed and tongued joints and between the layers I
place waterproof paper. Alternatively the floor may be of one layer of wood with
the joints caulked with tar and oakum like a ship's deck.
On this floor I place parallel rows of wood joists arranged vertically.
On the top of the joists I place a floor made either of concrete or cement, or
alternatively I place on said joists a horizontal layer of metal plates preferably
wrought iron or steel; and I prefer to make these with the joints of the plates
butted together with covering strips underneath secured to the plates by means of
countersunk screws so as to leave the upper surface flush so that the floor may be
used for any other purpose when not required as a rink. To provide for the
expansion and contraction of the plates due to changes of temperature and to make
the joints watertight I interpose a layer of indiarubber or other elastic jointing
material between the plates and the strips. Or I may alternatively rivet the plates
together. I run the water to be frozen in a thin stratum on the plates. To prevent
the water running over the edges I either turn up the outer edges of the plates all
round the rink floor, or fasten to the said edges strips of metal or wood jointed up
watertight to the plates.
To freeze the water I direct a current of air cooled by any refrigerating machine
to below the freezing point of water, 32° Faht, and preferably much lower through
the spaces between the metal plates, the joists and the floor boards and cause this
air to circulate continuously in the said spaces. The air cools the metal plates to
below 32° F. and the water is frozen on the upper surface of the plates.
If the ice is required to be removed and used for other purposes, than as a rink
floor I freeze it thicker adding more water as required, and when thick enough for
the purpose for which it is required I stop the current of cold air and substitute
for it a current of hot air of a temperature above the freezing point of water. This
melts the ice of the metal floor so that the ice can be readily moved in pieces.
The spaces underneath the floor boards may be left open, filled with air or may

page_text: be filled with charcoal, sawdust, cotton silicate or other suitable non-conducting
material.
Dated this 19th day of October 1807
(Sgd.), JOHNSONS,
Petitioner's Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

page_text: To provide for the expansion and contraction of the plates due to changes of
temperature and to make the joints watertight I interpose a layer of indiarubber or
other elastic jointing material between the plates and the strips. Or I may
alternatively rivet the plates together. I run the water to be frozen in a thin stratum
on the plates. To prevent the water running over the edges I either turn up the
outer edges of the plates all round the rink floor or fasten to the said edges strips
of metal or wood jointed up watertight to the plates.
If the ice is required to be removed and used for other purposes than as a rink
floor, I freeze it thicker, adding more water as required and when thick enough for
the purpose for which it is required I stop the current of cold air and substitute for
it a current of hot air of a temperature above the freezing point of water. This
melts the ice off the metal floor so that the ice can be readily removed in pieces.
The spaces underneath the floor boards may be left open, filled with air or may be
filled with charcoal, sawdust, cotton silicate or other suitable non-conducting
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
―
The improved floor, and method of constructing same, for freezing a stratum of
water into ice for skating and cuvling rinks and for other purposes for which ice is
required, substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.