IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS FOR PRESERVING FOOD AND OTHER PERISHABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: S
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention
IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS FOR PRESERVING FOOD AND OTHER
PERISHABLE SUBSTANCES." A communication from abroad by Nathaniel
Wheeler, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of America.
of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firin of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS FOR PRE-
SERVING FOOD AND OTHER PERISHABLE SUBSTANCES." [A communication from
abroad by Nathaniel Wheeler, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of
America.]
The object of these improvements is to secure economy in the use of ice and a
greater efficiency in cooling and preserving perishable articles than has been here-
tofore obtained, by so controlling the current of air that a cold current is constantly
passing from the ice down the outside of the provision chamber, and thence through
it to the top thereof where it escapes in contact with the ice, and being re-cooled
is presently returned through the provision chamber from the bottom thereof, and
never from the top, external air being excluded. This is accomplished by means
of a refrigerator constructed according to this Invention, and in which there is no
communication from the outside to either the ice or provision chamber.
In carrying the said Invention into practice 1 construct a refrigerator having
practically no inlet for external air. The said refrigerator has an outer case and
an inner independent or removable case, the latter forming the provision chamber.
Between these two cases on all sides is a free space for ice and air, said inner case
or provision chamber being provided with an air escape opening and air inlets, all
constructed and operating together to promote and sustain a constant circulation

page_text: of the air of the provision chamber out at the top and in at the bottom thereof.
An inclined rack is provided, upon which ice is placed above the said provision
chamber, a door at the top of the outer case being afterwards closed. The articles
to be refrigerated are deposited in the said provision chamber, and an external door
in front of the said chamber is closed. The structure is now practically and sub-
stantially air-tight, the only communication with the outside being through a drip
pipe at bottom, out of which a little cold air may flow but by which warm air will
not enter.
The action is as follows:-By natural law the heat of the confined articles
generates an upward current, which passing out by an escape opening in the pro-
vision chamber is cooled in passing over the ice on the said rack, descends at the
rear of the said provision chamber, which it re-enters by inlets, to continue its
circuit so long as ico remains on the rack and the articles contained in the provision
chamber generate heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 1
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
September 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS FOR PRE-
SERVING FOOD AND OTHER PERISHABLE SUBSTANCES." A. communication from
abroad by Nathaniel Wheeler, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to refrigerating apparatus for preserving food and other
similarly perishable substances.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved refrigerator partly in section; Figure 2,
a transverse section of the same.
E
A represents the outer non-conducting wall of the structure; B, the provision
chamber; C, the hot air escape; D, D, the cold air inlets; E, the ice rack; H, the
ice door; I, the door of provision chamber; K, the drip pipe; L, the ice chamber. S
Between the outer and inner cases A and B, on all sides, is a free space for ice and
air.
The object of these improvements is to secure economy in the use of ice and a
greater efficiency in cooling and preserving perishable articles than has been here-
tofore obtained, by so controlling the current of air that a cold current is constantly 3
passing from the ice down the outside of the provision chamber, and thence through
it to the top thereof where it escapes in contact with the ice, and being re-cooled
is presently returned through the provision chamber from the bottom and never
from the top of the same, external air being excluded from the refrigerator. This
object is accomplished by the peculiar construction of the said refrigerator. There 4

page_text: is no communication from the outside with either the ice or provision chamber.
Ice is placed upon the rack E, and the door H is shut. The articles or substances
to be refrigerated are deposited in the provision chamber B and the door I is closed.
The structure is now practically and substantially air-tight, the only communication
with the outside being through a drip pipe K, out of which a little cold air may
flow, but by which warm air will not enter.
The action of the said refrigerator is as follows, that is to say:-By a natural law
the heat of the confined articles generates an upward current, which passing out
by the escape aperture C is cooled in passing over the ice on the rack E, descends
at the rear of the provision chamber B, which it re-enters by the inlets D to continue
its circuit so long as ice remains on the rack and the articles contained generate
heat.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, the combination in a refrigerator, having practically no inlet for
external air, of the outer case and the inner independent or removable case, having
between them on all sides a free space for ice and air, the said inner case being
provided with an air escape aperture C and air inlet apertures, constructed and
operating as described, to promote and sustain a constant circulation of the air of
the provision chamber out at the top and in at the bottom of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.